Publishing houses Axel Springer and Ringier can create one joint undertaking and the Lithuanian Eva Grupe can take over Zakłady Przemysłu Cukierniczego Mieszko. The President of UOKiK has also agreed to implement concentrations of undertakings producing car parts.

Axel Springer is a media corporation operating in 36 countries. It is the owner of over 170 newspapers and magazines – in Poland including “Fakt”, “Przegląd Sportowy” and “Newsweek”. Ringier publishes over 120 newspapers and magazines in Europe and Asia (it does not operate in Poland). The concentration will result in the establishment of an undertaking which will own newspapers and internet portals in Poland, Czech Republic, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as Slovakia and Hungary. Axel Springer shall contribute shares of Polish undertakings, such as Axel Springer Polska, Viviana Investments, Infor Biznes and oFeminin.pl to the newly-established entity.

Eva Grupe is a holding company which specialises in long-term investments in securities and real estate in Central and Eastern Europe. It heads a capital group whose members operate in such domains as the production of confectionery and food products trade. The target undertaking - ZPC Mieszko - is a producer of such products as chocolate bars, waffles or caramels. The concentration will consists in Eva Grupe acquiring 65.9% of Mieszko shares.

The last transaction concerns the takeover of Tedrive Poland by Neapco. Both undertakings operate within the sector of car parts (e.g. drive shafts) production and sale. The concentration will consist in Neapco Holdings purchasing shares in Tedrive Poland and, as a result, acquiring 100% of votes at the shareholders’ meeting of the company that is being taken over.

Upon the completion of antitrust proceedings, the President of UOKiK decided that the concentrations shall not significantly restrict competition in Poland.

Under the existing regulations, a transaction is subject to a notification submitted to the antitrust authority if the transaction participants' combined turnover in the year preceding the notification exceeded 1 billion euro worldwide or 50 million euro in Poland.

We would also like to inform you that information on all antitrust proceedings related to concentrations carried out by UOKiK is available at the Office’s website.

Additional information the media:
Małgorzata Cieloch, Spokesperson for UOKiK
Department of International Relations and Communication
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warsaw, Poland
Phone: (+48 22) 827 28 92, 55 60 106, 55 60 430
faks (+48 22) 826 11 86
E-mail: malgorzata.cieloch@uokik.gov.pl