Competition Newsletter: September-October 2024

Antitrust

NCA investigates four largest food retailers

The Serbian NCA has started an antitrust investigation against the four largest food retailers in Serbia - Delhaize Serbia, Mercator-S, Univerexport, and DIS. The antitrust watchdog is suspecting that the four retailers have been coordinating their prices over a long period.

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Merger control

A large gun-jumping fine imposed

A misdemeanor court in Montenegro has imposed what could be the largest gun-jumping fine in the history of merger control in the Balkan country. The fine was close to EUR 1 million and pertained to a transaction involving a Serbian acquirer and a Slovenian target.

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Merger control

Twelve new merger clearances

During September and October, the Montenegrin NCA published 12 new merger clearances:

• Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG (Germany) - V4Drive Battery GmbH (Germany)
• ORBICO d.o.o. (Croatia) - HBI ITALY ACQUISITION CO. S.R.L. (Italy)
• PODRAVKA AGRI d.o.o. (Croatia) - ) BELJE plus d.o.o. (Croatia), PIK-VINKOVCI plus d.o.o. (Croatia), VUPIK plus d.o.o. (Croatia), Energija Gradec d.o.o. (Croatia), BELJE AGRO-VET plus d.o.o. (Croatia), FELIX plus d.o.o. (Croatia)
• MESNA INDUSTRIJA BRAĆA PIVAC doo (Montenegro) - CM Invest GmbH (Austria)
• Mavie Next GmbH (Austria) - Cura Domo Holding GmbH (Austria)
• United Media S.à r.l. (Luxembourg) - TOPNEWS.SI d.o.o. (Slovenia)
• Ms. Ana Marojevic (Montenegro), Menzies Aviation (Europe) B.V. (Netherlands), Air Serbia a.d. (Serbia) - Menzies Aviation d.o.o. (Serbia)
• ALFI RE doo (Slovenia), Erste doo (Croatia) - [assets]
• INA - CRNA GORA D.O.O. (Montenegro) - VIVA ŠPED“ d.o.o. (Montenegro)
• FASHION COMPANY d.o.o. (Serbia) - ERUDITA BALKANS d.o.o. (Serbia) [assets], K2 SPORT d.o.o. (Croatia) [assets]
• Mr. Milija Babović (Serbia), Madden Europe Holding BV (Netherlands) - SM Fashion d.o.o. (Serbia)
• Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. (Italy), Electricité de France S.A. (France) - PARCOLOG Invest SPPICAV (France)

Merger control

NCA imposes a gun-jumping fine

The Bosnian NCA has fined Bosnian company Bingo doo for gun jumping. Specifically, the NCA established that Bingo acquired a majority ownership share in the company Sani Grand City, active on the market of renting and managing own real estate or leased real estate - shopping centers in the Sarajevo Canton. The fine amounted to BAM 450,000 (approx. EUR 230,000).

Competition Act amended

Amendments to the North Macedonian Competition Act have been published in the country's official gazette. The amendments relate to procedural issues, such as the appointment and dismissal of NCA functionaries.

Merger control

Fourteen new merger notifications

During September and October, the North Macedonian NCA announced the receipt of 14 new merger notifications:

• Erste Asset Management GmbH (Austria) - Impact Asset Management GmbH (Austria)
• A1 Serbia doo (Serbia) - Conexio Metro doo (Serbia)
• Dijagnostički centa Vila Bogati doo (Slovenia) - Pulmed doo (Slovenia)
• Mainstream information technologies doo (Slovenia) et al. - HC Centar doo (Slovenia)
• WVP ad (North Macedonia) - Inovo Broker ad (North Macedonia)
• DSV Holding Germany GmbH (Germany) - Schenker AG (Germany)
• Mr. Stefan Pierer (Austria), Distribution & Marketing GmbH (Austria), Raiffeisen Beteiligungsholding GmbH (Austria) - Rosenbauer International AG (Austria)
• Orbico doo (Croatia) - HBI Italy Acquisition Co. Srl (Italy)
• Aricoma as (Czechia) - GIST sro (Czechia)
• Aricoma as (Czechia) - TaxLabs sro (Czechia)
• CP Spruce Holdings, S.C.Sp (Luxembourg) - Vantiv Health LLC (USA), Gambro Renal Products, Inc. (USA), RTS Worldwide Holdings Inc. (USA), Vantiv Holding BV (Netherlands), Vantiv Health GmbH (Switzerland), Vantiv Holding Limited (USA)
• Aricoma as (Czechia) - Claristone sro (Czechia)
• NLB Car&Go (Slovenia) - DoberAvto.si (Slovenia)
• SAVP Holding doo (Serbia) - SAGA MK DOOEL (North Macedonia)

Merger control

Seven new merger notifications

During September and October, the Albanian NCA announced the receipt of seven new merger notifications:

• ANTENNA HUNGÁRIA Zrt. (Hungary) - PR – TELECOM Zrt. (Hungary)
• SNAM SPA (Italy) - EDISON STOCCAGIO SPA (Italy)
• MARCEGAGLIA STEEL SPA (Italy), MANNI GROUP SPA (Italy) [JV]
• Evita LLC (Albania) - PHARMA ONE LLC (Albania); FARMACOM LLC (Albania) - PHARMA ONE LLC (Albania); PHARMA ONE LLC (Albania) - DELTA Med LLC (Albania)
• Mr. Ermal Beqiri (Albania) - HORIZON LLC (Albania)
• KONČAR – Electrical Industry Inc. (Croatia), Siemens Energy Holding BV (Netherlands) [JV]
• RAGT SEMENCES (France) - DELEPLANQUE ET COMPAGNIE (France)