During 2016 the Competition Authority issued 111 merger control decisions. Out of the 111 decisions:
- one was conditionally approved (in the sugar market);
- one was unconditionally approved in Phase II (in the market of milk and dairy products); and
- 109 were cleared in the summary proceedings:
- 84 of which concerned acquisition of sole control;
- 23 represented joint ventures or acquisitions of joint control; and
- two concerned mergers and corporate restructuring.
Most of the notifying parties involved were foreign companies, while notifications filed by domestic companies made up approximately 24% of all filed notifications.
The concentrations took place in the following sectors:
- telecommunications;
- chemicals;
- pharmaceuticals;
- food; and
- energy.
Further, the authority issued:
- five decisions following proceedings regarding restrictive practice agreements;
- 21 decisions on individual exemptions of restrictive agreements;(1)
- three decisions concerning abuse of dominant position; and
- 64 opinions on various aspects of competition law.
The authority conducted sector inquiries in:
- the oil derivatives wholesale and retail market;
- the insurance market; and
- the aftermarket sector.
The authority proved to be one of the busiest in the region.
For further information on this topic please contact Srdjana Petronijević at Moravčević Vojnović i Partneri in cooperation with Schoenherr by telephone (+381 11 320 26 00) or email ([email protected]). The Moravčević Vojnović i Partneri website can be accessed at www.schoenherr.rs.
Endnotes
(1) The individual exemption mechanism is still in place in Serbia.