Competition Newsletter: May 2022

Antitrust

Producer of ceramic tiles investigated for RPM

The Serbian NCA has started an antitrust probe against a local producer of ceramic tiles. The NCA is alleging that the producer had engaged in illegal resale price maintenance (RPM) practices. The watchdog came across the contentious agreements while conducting a sector inquiry into the market for ceramic tiles and sanitary ware.

State aid

Investment assistance to Henkel cleared

Serbia's state aid authority has cleared investment support to Henkel by the Serbian government. The state assistance relates to the expansion of Henkel's production site in the town of Kruševac. The total value of the project is EUR 45 million and the amount of state assistance EUR 4.5 million.

Merger control

Eight new merger decisions

During May, the Montenegrin NCA cleared eight new transactions:

• 4iG Nyrt. (Hungary) - Albtelecom SH.A. (Albania)
• Generali Participations Netherlands N.V. (Netherlands) - Future Generali India Insurance Company Limited (India)
• HIFA OIL CG d.o.o. (Montenegro) - Pavgord CG d.o.o. (Montenegro)
• Telemach d.o.o. (Slovenia) - KABELSKO RAZDELILNI SISTEM d.o.o. (Slovenia)
• 4iG Nyrt. (Hungary) - DIGI Kft (Hungary)
• MOL Nyrt. (Hungary) - LOTOS Paliwa Sp. z o.o. (Poland)
• Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG (Germany) - Fazua GmbH (Germany)
• VGRD GmbH (Germany) - Auto-Holding Dresden GmbH (Germany)

Merger control

Three new notifications

During May, the Bosnian NCA announced the receipt of three new merger notifications:

• TUR "Market AS" Ljubo Simić s.p. (Bosnia and Herzegovina) - Kvimpex d.o.o. (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
• Sisecam Chemicals USA, Inc. (USA) - Ciner Resources Corporation (USA), Atlantic Soda LLC (USA), Pacific Soda LLC (USA)
• United Media S.a.r.l. (Luxembourg) - ASCANIUS MEDIA d.o.o. (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Ascanius Media d.o.o. (Slovenia)

Merger control

Ten new merger notifications

During May, the North Macedonian NCA announced the receipt of 10 new merger notifications:

• Baumit GmbH (Germany) - Sakret Trockenbaustoffe Dr. Arnold Schäfer GmbH (Germany)
• NeoGames S.A. (Luxembourg) - Aspire Global PLC (Malta)
• Slovenia Broadband S.a.r.l. (Luxembourg) - Totalna televizija d.o.o. (Croatia)
• MKG Properties Ltd (Cyprus), Aleksandar Nekretnine Savudrija d.o.o. (Croatia) [JV]
• Vass Consultoria de Sistemas, SL (Spain) - Inside Group AG (Switzerland)
• Netcetera Group AG (Switzerland) - Route Rank SA (Switzerland)
• Ford Otomotiv Sanayi A.Ş. (Turkey) - Ford Romania S.A. (Romania)
• Baker Hughes Company (USA), The Saudi Arabian Industrial Investments Company [JV]
• Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG (Germany) - Autozentrum Sport AS (Norway)
• Telekom Slovenije d.d. (Slovenia) - ACTUAL I.T. d.d. (Slovenia)