The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection initiated the second stage of proceedings concerning the acquisition of Kalisz Retail, Kłodzko Retail, Włocławek Retail and Zamość Retail by Echo Polska Properties

Among the various activities which they engage in, the undertakings involved in the concentration scheme offer retail and service spaces for rent; both remain the owners of shopping centres in the city of Kalisz. Echo Polska Properties is the owner of a shopping centre known as Galeria Amber, while Kalisz Retail owns another shopping centre, called Galeria Tęcza.

In accordance with the information presented by Echo Polska Properties, these shopping centres do not compete against one another due to significant differences in their profiles, with Galeria Amber being a large shopping centre, while Galeria Tęcza is much smaller in scale. In addition, the company stated that the relevant geographic market is larger than the area of one town or city since it takes about 45 minutes to reach the relevant shopping centre.

This information requires verification; for the above reason, the UOKiK deemed it necessary to perform a market survey. This means that the second stage of the proceedings must now be initiated.

Additional information

Pursuant to the amended act on competition and consumer protection, proceedings pertaining to concentration consist of two stages. The first stage of the proceedings takes up to one month; however, in particularly complex cases where there is a probability of a significant restriction of competition or where a market survey needs to be carried out, such proceedings may also last longer. The adoption of a decision on the extension of the deadline for the proceedings is by no means determinative of the ruling which may be given in the future.

Additional information for the media:

Press Office of the UOKiK
pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warsaw
Phone: 22 55 60 430, 55 60 314
E-mail: biuroprasowe@uokik.gov.pl

Twitter: @UOKiKgovPL