Competition Newsletter: March 2022

Sectoral inquiry into intercity bus transportation published

The Serbian NCA has published a report on its sectoral inquiry into the market for intercity bus transportation. The analysis was completed as part of a project between Serbia and the International Finance Corporation, part of World Bank Group. The purpose of the inquiry was to identify the basic characteristics of the market as well as to analyze the regulatory framework and conditions of competition on the market.

Serbian and Greek NCAs to strengthen cooperation

The Serbian Commission for Protection of Competition and the Hellenic Competition Commission have signed a cooperation agreement. The purpose of the agreement is to strenthen cooperation between two NCAs, through exchange of expertise and comparative practice.

Merger control

11 new merger decisions

During March, the Montenegrin NCA published 11 new merger decisions:

• CEE BIG B.V. (Netherlands) - Delta M CG d.o.o. (Montenegro)
• HIFA OIL CG d.o.o. (Montenegro) - Mivis d.o.o. (Montenegro)
• Daimler Truck AG (Germany), Traton SE (Germany), Volvo AB (Sweden) [JV]
• A4nXT GmbH (Germany), Lufthansa Industry Solutions GmbH & Co. KG. (Germany) [JV]
• Bulgarian Telecommunications Company EAD (Bulgaria) - Telnet OOD (Bulgaria)
• Nova Ljubljanska Banka d.d. (Slovenia) - Sberbank banka d.d. (Slovenia)
• Erste Bank Hungary Zrt. (Hungary) - Commerzbank Hungary Zrt. (Hungary)
• Lamium Trade Limited (Cyprus), ALFI Renewables upravljanje skladov, d.o.o. (Slovenia) - Ivicom Energy d.o.o. (Serbia)
• OTP Bank Nyrt (Hungary) - Alpha Bank Albania SHA (Albania)
• Serbia Broadband – Srpske kablovske mreže d.o.o. (Serbia) - Polaris Media d.o.o. (Serbia)
• United Media S.à.r.l. (Luxembourg) - Ascanius Media d.o.o. (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Ascanius Media, promocija in trženje d.o.o. (Slovenia)

Antitrust

NCA issues a dawn raid guidance

The Bosnian NCA has published a guidance on how it collects information and documents on the party’s premises.

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Merger control

Two new merger notifications

During March, the Bosnian NCA announced the receipt of two new merger notifications:

• Daimler Truck AG (Germany), Traton SE (Germany), Volvo AB (Sweden) [JV]
• ASA Finance d.d. (Bosnia and Herzegovina) - Sberbank BH d.d. (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Merger control

NCA fines a German company for two gun-jumping violations

In a rare gun-jumping decisions, the North Macedonian NCA has fined a German company for two violations.

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Merger control

Eight new merger notifications

During March, the North Macedonian NCA announced the receipt of eight new merger notifications:

• Mercedes-Benz Group AG (Germany) - Daimler Trucks Korea Ltd. (South Korea) [assets]
• Mr. Stefan Hipp, Mr. Sebastian Hipp - Hipp Holding AG (Germany)
• Evo Payments International LLC (USA), National Bank of Greece S.A. (Greece) - NBG Payments S.A. (Greece)
• Nova Ljubljanska banka d.d. (Slovenia) - Sberbank banka d.d. (Slovenia)
• S.D.M. International d.o.o. (Serbia) - Maks Bet d.o.o. (North Macedonia)
• Salus Ljubljana d.d. (Slovenia) - Medicoengineering d.o.o. (Slovenia)
• Cinven Capital Management (VII) General Partner Limited (Guernsey) - Bayer AG (Germany) [assets]
• Kin + Carta Group (UK) - Melon AD (Bulgaria)