Approved by Competition Commission the concentration concerning the acquisition of exclusive control of “Tönnies International Management GmbH“, on companies “Vion GmbH” and “Vion Beef BV“, as well as the direct and indirect subsidiaries of the latter “Vion Beef Süd GmbH“, “Vion Waldkraiburg GmbH“, “Vion Crailsheim GmbH’, “Vion Move GmbH“, “Vion Hilden GmbH“, “CEMO GmbH” and “Best Hides GmbH».

In detail, the committee’s announcement states the following:

At today’s meeting of the Competition Commission’s department (Decision 862/2024), it was unanimously decided to approve the concentration concerning the acquisition of exclusive control by “Tönnies International Management GmbH” over the companies named “Vion GmbH” and “Vion Beef BV” , as well as the direct and indirect subsidiaries of the latter “Vion Beef Süd GmbH”, “Vion Waldkraiburg GmbH”, “Vion Crailsheim GmbH”, “Vion Move GmbH”, “Vion Hilden GmbH”, “CEMO GmbH” and “Best Hides GmbH “, within the meaning of article 5 par. 2 (b) and article 10 of Law 3959/2011.

The concentration in question concerns the wider markets for the sale of fresh (fresh) and frozen beef and pork and in particular the markets for a) sale of fresh (fresh) and frozen beef to retailers (distribution channel to retailers), b) sale of fresh (fresh) and of frozen beef to catering companies (distribution channel to catering companies), c) sale of fresh (fresh) and frozen beef to meat processing industries (distribution channel to meat processing industries), d) sale of fresh (fresh) and frozen pork to retailers (channel distribution to retailers), e) sale of fresh (fresh) and frozen pork to catering companies (distribution channel to catering companies) and f) sale of fresh (fresh) and frozen pork to meat processing industries (distribution channel to meat processing industries).

In the concentration, there are no affected markets on a horizontal and/or vertical level, as none of the above relevant markets cumulatively meet the criteria a) activity of at least two (2) of the participating companies and a total market share of at least 15% (as regards horizontal markets) or b) activity of at least one of the participating companies and a total market share of at least 25% (as regards vertical markets).

The concentration does not lead to vertical relations between the parties, since the activities of one party to the transaction are not located in a market of a higher or lower economic tier than the activities of another party to the transaction. Also, no diagonal effects (conglomerate effects) arise from the elements of the merger file.

By virtue of the above, the Competition Commission, in a Section, unanimously approves the concentration notified pursuant to article 8 par. 3 of Law 3959/2011 concerning the acquisition of exclusive control of “Tönnies International Management GmbH” over the companies with the name ” Vion GmbH” and “Vion Beef BV”, as well as on the latter’s direct and indirect subsidiaries, given that the concentration in question, despite falling within the scope of paragraph 1 of article 6 of Law 3959/2011, does not cause serious doubts, as to its compatibility with the requirements of the operation of competition in the individual markets to which it concerns.