Competition Newsletter: November-December 2023

Merger control

Phase II probe in the coffee market

The Serbian NCA has started a rare Phase II merger probe, concerning a planned combination between two largest Serbian producers of coffee - the Atlantic Group and Strauss Adriatic, respectively. The planned concentration would consist in the Atlantic Group acquiring sole control over Strauss Adriatic. The product market of most concern to the NCA is that of ground coffee, in which the combined share of the parties is allegedly 60-70%. This was enough for the NCA to start an in-depth investigation into the proposed merger. The Phase II probe can last up to four months.

Merger control

14 new merger notifications

During November and December, the Montenegrin NCA announced the receipt of 14 new merger notifications:

• Nelt Co. d.o.o. (Serbia) - D Way d.o.o. (Serbia), D Way Podgorica doo (Montenegro)
• MK Green Energy Ltd (Cyprus), Evelixon Trading Ltd (Cyprus) - Wellbury-Bela Anta d.o.o (Serbia), WBA Energy d.o.o. (Serbia)
• Telekom Serbia ad (Serbia) - Film Klub Extra doo (Serbia)
• United Media S.a.r.l. (Luxembourg) - ASPN doo (Slovenia)
• Telekom Serbia ad (Serbia) - KDS Internet TV doo (Serbia)
• Knjaz Miloš ad (Serbia) - PepsiCo, Inc. (USA) [assets]
• Galenika ad (Serbia) - Lifemedic doo (Serbia)
• Talentis International Construction Investments Kft. (Hungary) - Lukavac Cement d.o.o. (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
• Flutter Entertainment Holdings Ireland Limited (Ireland) - Max Bet doo (Serbia)
• Actis EU Managment S.a r.l. (Luxembourg) - Sky Towers Infrastructure doo (Serbia)
• Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG (Germany) - Levi Rally Center Oy (Finland)
• Across Media Holding, a.s. (Slovakia) - Adriatic Advertising d.o.o. (Serbia), I&F Mediabrands d.o.o. (Serbia), I&F Accounting d.o.o. (Serbia), I&FLokomotiva d.o.o. (Serbia)
• CEE-BIG B.V. (Netherlands) - RC Kraljevo RSB d.o.o. (Serbia), RC Europe Epsilon RSB d.o.o. (Serbia)
• Alta Pay Group doo (Serbia) - Eki Transfers doo (Serbia)

Merger control

Two new merger notifications

During November and December, the Bosnian NCA announced the receipt of two new merger notifications:

• Knjaz Miloš a.d. (Serbia) - PepsiCo (assets)
• Actis EU Management Sarl (Luxembourg) - Sky Towers Infrastructure doo (Serbia)

Merger control

20 new notifications

During November and December, the North Macedonian NCA announced the receipt of 20 new merger notifications:

• Kelvin UK Bidco Limited (UK) - Kin and Carta plc (UK)
• GHARAGE Ventures GmbH (Germany), Dufry International AG (Switzerland), Takeaway.com Central Core B.V. (Netherlands) - GHARAGE Ventures GmbH (Germany) [JV]
• United Group Bulgaria EOOD (Bulgaria) - Viva Corporate Bulgaria EOOD (Bulgaria)
• ALFI Renewables doo (Slovenia), MK Green Energy Ltd (Cyprus) - Suntastic One doo (Serbia), Suntastic Two doo (Serbia)
• Quantox Technology doo (Serbia) - Quantox Technology dooel (North Macedonia)
• Schwarz New Ventures GmbH (Germany), RVI Venture GmbH (Germany) - Rogon Technologies GmbH (Germany)
• Daimler Truck AG (Germany), Electrified Power Holdco LLC (USA), PACCAR Inc [JV]
• NLB doo (Slovenia) - Generali Investments ad (North Macedonia)
• Mercator doo (Slovenia) - Engrotuš doo (Slovenia)
• Cleverlance Deutschland GmbH (Germany) - ITinera projects & experts GmbH & Co. KG (Germany)
• SEC NEWGATE S.p.A. (Italy), Mr. Thomas Varvitsiotis (Greece), Mr. Ioannis Olympios (Greece) - V+O Advertising Consulting SA (Greece), V+O International SA (Greece)
• Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. (Italy), Gruppo San Donato S.p.A. (Italy), Gk Holding Italia S.R.L. (Italy)
• EP Equity Investment S.á r.l. (Luxembourg) - Casino, Guichard-Perrachon S.A. (France)
• GRS Solar dooel (North Macedonia) - MIT Solar dooel (North Macedonia)
• Mercedes Benz Group (Germany), BMW Group (Germany) [JV]
• AZ Deos doo (Slovenia) - Faculty of applied social studies Nova Gorica (Slovenia)
• Borealis AG (Austria) - Integra Plastics AD (Bulgaria)
• One Agency Holding AB (Sweden) - Polarcape Consulting AB (Sweden)
• Nova Ljubljanska Banka d.d. (Slovenia) - SLS Holdco d.o.o. (Slovenia)

Merger control

Eight new notifications

During November and December, the Albanian NCA announced the receipt of eight new merger notifications:

• Proximus Opal SA/NV (Belgium) - Route Mobile Limited (India)
• Statkraft Germany GmbH (Germany), Statkraft Holding Wind & Solar Deutschland GmbH (Germany) and Statkraft Renewables SAS (France) - Statkraft Windenergie GmbH & Co.KG (Germany), Eoliennes Suroit SNC (France)
• CSIC Longjiang GH Gas Turbine Co., Ltd. (China), Guanghan Gas Turbine GmbH (Germany), Guanghan Gas Turbine Schweiz AG (Switzerland) - MAN Energy Solutions SE (Germany)
• Infinity Investment JSC (Albania) - Eagle Investment SHA (Albania)
• Volvo Business Services International AB (Sweden), Renault SAS (France) [JV]
• Infinity Investment JSC (Albania) - Eagle Investment SHA (Albania)
• Smurfit Kappa Group plc (Ireland) - WestRock Company (USA)
• Century DE Buyer LLC (USA), Century UK Buyer Limited (UK) - Simon & Schuster (UK) Limited (UK), Simon & Schuster, Inc. (USA)