Competition Newsletter: September 2021

Antitrust

NCA investigates leading suppliers of ground coffee in Serbia

The Serbian NCA has opened an antitrust investigation against the two biggest suppliers of ground coffee in Serbia, probing whether the companies have coordinated their business strategies concerning the wholesale of ground coffee on the Serbian market.

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Merger control

NCA opens a new gun-jumping investigation

The Serbian NCA has opened another gun-jumping investigation, this time concerning the acquisition of a company in bankruptcy by MAT-REAL ESTATE d.o.o. The NCA is suspecting there was a merger filing obligation in this case due to the turnover generated by the acquirer's related companies. For our review of the Serbian NCA's track record in gun-jumping enforcement, please click here.

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State aid

Government assistance to Niš airport cleared

The Serbian state aid authority has cleared government assistance to Niš airport, the second largest airport in Serbia. The aid was awarded in the form of subsidies. The authority concluded the assistance satisfied the conditions for state support for activities of general economic interest.

Merger control

Five new merger decisions

During September, the Montenegrin NCA published five new merger decisions:

• Diagnostični center Vila Bogatin d.o.o. (Slovenia) - Neuroedina d.o.o.
• Gryphon Invest AG (Switzerland) - APEX-MNE d.o.o. (Montenegro)
• Mondelēz Nederland Services B.V. (Netherlands) - Chipita Industrial and Commercial Company S.A. (Greece)
• Volkswagen AG (Germany) - Automobil-Logistik-Mosolf GmbH (Germany) [assets]
• Diagnostični center Vila Bogatin d.o.o. (Slovenia), ALFI PE k.d. (Slovenia) - MDT&T d.o.o. (Slovenia)

Merger control

Two new merger notifications announced

During September, the Bosnian NCA announced the receipt of two new merger notifications and called on third parties to comment on them:

• C.I.A.K. Auto d.o.o. (Croatia) - AUTO-MILOVANOVIĆ d.o.o. (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (relevant market: distribution, retail and wholesale of car parts and accessories)
• Nomad Foods Europe Limited (UK) - Ledo Group (relevant markets: production and supply of ice cream, production and supply of frozen food)

Merger control

Six new merger notifications

During September, the North Macedonian NCA announced the receipt of six new merger notifications:

• TB Digital Services GmbH (Germany) - Loom Technologies GmbH (Germany)
• Orbico doo (Croatia) - Art Techno Group OOD (Bulgaria)
• Volkswagen AG (Germany), Trinity Investments Designated Activity Company (Ireland) - Europcar Mobility Group S.A. (France)
• Stellantis N.V. (Netherlands), FIH Mobile Limited (Cayman Islands) [JV]
• KKCG Technologies s.r.o. (Czechia) - Stratiteq Sweden AB (Sweden)
• Napredna energetska rješenja d.o.o. (Croatia) - Dalekovod d.d. (Croatia)