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.
CCA clears the merger between Ardent XXV S.a.r.l and Servus d.o.o.
The Croatian Competition Agency (CCA) cleared in Phase I the concentration arising from the acquisition of indirect sole control on a permanent basis over Servus d.o.o., Solin, by Ardent XXV S.a.r.l, Luxembourg, through Solis Bidco d.o.o., Zagreb.
The concentration is implemented through the acquisition of indirect control within the meaning of Article 15(1)(2) of the Competition Act. The CCA received the complete notification of the concentration on 23 January 2026 pursuant to Article 20 of the Competition Act. The notification was submitted by Solis Bidco d.o.o. as the notifying party.
On 28 January 2026 the CCA published on its website a request for information inviting interested parties to submit comments regarding the proposed concentration. Within the prescribed deadline, which expired on 9 February 2026, the CCA did not receive any replies to the request for information.
The concentration will have effects on the following relevant markets in the Republic of Croatia:
- retail for optical products
- provision of privately funded healthcare services
On these markets, only the target undertaking, Servus is active through its operations under the names Optika Anda and Poliklinika Servus Anda.
Solis Bidco was established for the purpose of implementing the concentration and operates as a holding company. It is directly controlled by Ardent XXV S.a.r.l, which forms part of a group controlled by MidEuropa VI Management Limited, an investment group present in Croatia through investments across multiple sectors.
According to the notification, the value of the retail optical products market in Croatia amounted to approximately EUR 228 million in 2024, with the target holding a market share of 10–20%. Significant competitors include Ghetaldus optika d.d. (10–20%), Optotim d.o.o. (up to 5%), and Očna optika Oculus (up to 5%). The market is characterised by the presence of several larger chains and a greater number of smaller opticians.
The value of the privately funded healthcare services market is estimated at around EUR 1 billion in 2024, while the segment of private ophthalmology services amounts to approximately EUR 35–45 million. Poliklinika Servus Anda holds a market share of up to 5%. The largest competitors in the ophthalmology segment are Specijalna bolnica za oftalmologiju Svjetlost (30–40%), Poliklinika Optical Express (10–20%), and Alfa Vision d.o.o. (Poliklinika Bilić Vision) (5–10%).
As the notifying party and its affiliated undertakings are not active on the identified markets, there is no horizontal overlap or vertical relationship, and the implementation of the concentration does not lead to changes in the market structure.
Based on the information submitted and other available evidence, the CCA concluded that it may reasonably be assumed that the concentration is not prohibited within the meaning of Article 16 of the Competition Act, as it does not give rise to the creation or strengthening of a dominant position nor to a significant impediment to effective competition.
Accordingly, the notified concentration is considered compatible and has been cleared in Phase I pursuant to Article 22(1) of the Competition Act.
The letter of concordance in the Croatian language is available on the CCA’s website at the following link: