The Commission for Protection of Competition has, ex officio, initiated proceedings against the company VILLAGER, trgovina na debelo, d.o.o, Ljubljana, Republic of Slovenia, to investigate a concentration that was executed without approval in accordance with the Law on Protection of Competition. It is reasonably presumed that this concentration arose from VILLAGER, d.o.o. acquiring control over SEMENARNA Ljubljana, a production and trading company, d.o.o., located in Ljubljana, Republic of Slovenia.

The Commission will evaluate the criteria prescribed by law (Article 19 of the Law on Protection of Competition) during the investigative proceedings to determine the permissibility of the concentration. In particular, it will consider the fact that this concentration was executed without notification, which constituted an obligation for the market participants. The law provides that concentrations among market participants are permissible, except where they would significantly restrict, distort, prevent competition in the market of the Republic of Serbia. This is particularly relevant if that restriction, distortion or prevention is the result of creating or strengthening of a dominant position.

The Commission will ascertain the essential facts, evidence, and other elements that will serve as the basis for its decision regarding the potential imposition of competition protection measures, specifically measures of deconcentration.

Through the conclusion initiating the proceedings, all individuals possessing data, documents, or other relevant information that may be pertinent to establishing the factual circumstances in the aforementioned proceedings are kindly invited to submit such information to the Commission for Protection of Competition, located at 25 Savska Street, Belgrade.