• UOKiK has initiated the second stage of proceedings regarding pharmaceutical market.
• It concerns the acquisition of Medix by DOZ and Dolnośląska Grupa Apteczna (DGA, Lower Silesian Pharmaceutical Group) by Panathea.
• In these cases, there is a risk that competition might be restricted.

Participants of both concentration procedures run pharmacies and pharmacy points.

Acquisition of Medix by DOZ

DOZ manages pharmacies operating under the name “DOZ Apteki dbam o zdrowie”. Medix is a franchisee of a dozen retail outlets of this chain.

Data provided by the acquiring company shows that after the concentration the competition on some local markets could be restricted. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a market research necessary for UOKiK to verify the received information. In addition, the office will analyse the relationship between DOZ and its franchisees.

Acquisition of DGA by Panathea

UOKiK established that business operations of the capital groups controlling Panathea and DGA coincide within 1 km in Legnica and Brzeg. The transaction may therefore lead to a situation when one group will gain a dominant position, thus significantly restricting competition. In order to properly assess this concentration, it will be necessary to conduct a market research.

The commencement of the second stage of the proceeding does not affect decisions to be made in the future. The President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection may give its consent (unconditional or conditional) to concentration or prohibit it. At this stage, the company may also withdraw the application. Pursuant to antitrust law, in such a situation UOKiK will obligatorily discontinue the proceedings and the notified concentration will not take effect.

Additional information

Pursuant to the Act on Competition and Consumer Protection, proceedings regarding concentration are two-stage. The first stage takes up to a month. However, in particularly complex cases, where there is a likelihood of a significant restriction of competition or where market research is required, the proceedings may take more time.

The UOKiK website provides information on all antitrust proceedings regarding concentration conducted by the Office. Further information on the principles behind concentration can be found in a special report.

Additional information for the media:

UOKiK Press Office
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warszawa, Poland
Phone +48 695 902 088, +48 22 55 60 246
E-mail: biuroprasowe@uokik.gov.pl
Twitter: @UOKiKgovPL