Serbia
Merger control
Gun jumping investigation in pharma sector
The Serbian NCA has started a gun-jumping probe in the pharma retail sector. The watchdog is probing whether the acquisition of a pharmacy business through a public-private partnership (PPP) was supposed to be notified in the merger control procedure.
Merger control
Phase II probe in steel industry
The Serbian NCA has started its second Phase II merger probe of the year – this time in the steel industry. The NCA started the in-depth probe due to a horizontal overlap between the parties.
State aid
New regional aid regulation on the table
Serbia's State aid watchdog - the Commission for State Aid Control - has published a draft of a new regulation which will govern the award of regional State aid in Serbia. The watchdog announced the public consultation will last until November 10, so interested parties are welcome to provide their comments until then.
Montenegro
Mandate of acting head of Montenegrin NCA extended
Ms. Lepa Aleksic, the acting head of the Montenegrin NCA, has been reappointed in the acting role of the competition watchdog for another six months.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Antitrust
The NCA fines an undertaking providing heating services
The Bosnian NCA has established that the company EUROTERM d.o.o Kiseljak has entered into a restrictive agreement concerning heating services in the municipality of Ilidža. The infringement occurred during 2018. Apart from establishing the infringement, the NCA also fined the infringing company.
Merger control
A concentration in the area of digital TV cleared
The Bosnian NCA has cleared a concentration on the market for the management of radio frequency spectrum for the purpose of distribution and broadcasting of digital TV programs. The target is Bosnian company Multiplex Service BH, while the acquirers are Dasto-Semtel and Nova BH, also from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
North Macedonia
Merger control
Eight new merger notifications
During October, the North Macedonian NCA received eight new merger notifications:
- Dijagnostički Centar Vila Bogatin doo (Slovenia) - Hirurški Sanatorium Rožna Dolina doo (Slovenia)
- Giesecke+Devrient Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (Germany) - Netcetera Group AG (Switzerland)
- ATS Group dooel (North Macedonia) - Sumbro Trade dooel (North Macedonia)
- Mavаson Limited (Cyprus) - R2G Polska Sp. z o.o. (Poland)
- Volkswagen AG (Germany) - HELLA Aglaia Mobile Vision GmbH (Germany)
- Generali Investments ad (North Macedonia) - Ilirika Fund Management (North Macedonia)
- Crédit Agricole Assurances SA (France), Europ Assistance Holding (France) - Europ Assistance France (France)
- Daimler AG (Germany), AB Volvo (Sweden) [JV]
General
Merger Control in the Balkans: The Basics
The basic rules governing merger filing in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia - in five short questions and answers.
Originally sent by e-mail. Original issue (mailchi.mp) · gajin.rs