Following a preliminary analysis, the antimonopoly authority concluded that a more detailed analysis of the transaction was necessary because it “identified possible risks of coordination between companies operating on certain agricultural markets”. Thus, “it was found that the company Curtea Dacilor SRL, which carries out logistics activities in the agricultural sector, has close economic ties with other companies in the agricultural sector”.
The Competition Council further explains its concerns by stating that “given these links, there is a risk that, after taking control of the “Agro Business Group” SRL, there could be a risk of coordinated behavior between several companies present on the agricultural market, especially on the sugar beet cultivation market”.
A more in-depth investigation into the impact of this transaction on the competitive environment may take up to 90 days, the antitrust authority warns, explaining that it is too early to draw final conclusions.
The investigation “does not automatically imply a conclusion that the announced transaction is incompatible with the normal competitive environment, but rather reflects the authorities’ preliminary concerns about the possible market consequences of the transaction,” the official statement said.
