Communication

The aim of the protection of market competition is primarily to create benefits for consumers and equal conditions for all entrepreneurs on the market, who, acting in accordance with the existing rules and competing on the market with the quality, price and innovation of their products and services, contribute to the overall development of the economy.

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Frey Automobil takes over Peugeot Hrvatska and Citroen Hrvatska

The Croatian Competition Agency (CCA) deemed compatible the concentration on the basis of which Frey Automobil acquires control over the undertakings Peugeot Hrvatska and Citroen Hrvatska.

The acquisition of Peugeot Hrvatska and Citroen Hrvatska is a part of the expanding strategy of the international holding in East Europe (Hungary and Slovenia). Walter Frey Holding AG has been present in Croatia with its sales and repair network for Daimler, Mercedes and Smart group since 2013.

By the implementation of this transaction Walter Frey Holding AG takes over the entire business of Peugeot Hrvatska and Citroen Hrvatska. This includes import and sale of new motor vehicles of the make Peugeot, Citroen and DS as well as the current sale and repair network that will after the implementation of the concentration continue to do business separately for Citroen and Peugeot motor vehicles.

This concentration will have effect on competition in the sales of new motor vehicles (cars and light trucks) and sales of original spare parts and provision of repair and maintenance services for motor vehicles.

The implementation of the concentration will place Frey Automobil second in the new motor vehicles sales market, with a market share from 10 to 15 per cent, whereas in the light trucks market the market share from 30 to 40 per cent will ensure the undertaking the leading position in the market. In the original spare parts market and the provision of repair and maintenance services for motor vehicles the market structure will remain unchanged, given these markets are defined by a particular car make and mutually separated.

The merger was approved by the CCA in the first phase based on the fact that the market structure data in the obligatory notification and other data available to the CCA showed no indices of significant effects on competition. The CCA also took into account the results of the merger test stipulated under the Croatian Competition Act. Concretely, following the receipt of the complete notification of concentration the CCA published on its web site a request for information aimed at all interested parties who may respond to the request relating to the concentration concerned. In this particular case, the CCA received no replies.