EU: Danish Crown, Tican 5.2 billion merger under review

Business competition authorities in Denmark will review the proposed merger between Danish Crown and Tican, Denmark’s largest pork processors. The co-ops of both companies approved the merger in March.

The European Commission approved the proposed merger in Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom after its investigation found no threat to effective competition outside Denmark “given the low market shares of the parties in these markets.” Tican and Danish Crown generate most of their revenue outside Denmark, and a significant part outside the European Union.

But in Denmark the situation is different because the company’s represent the lion’s share of pork production. The commission partially referred the proposed merger to the Danish Competition and Consumer Authority (DCCA) at the agency’s request. The commission found that the proposed merger “would threaten to significantly affect competition in certain markets in Denmark,” the EC said in a statement.

“The evidence gathered by the commission confirmed that the merger threatens to affect significantly competition in Denmark, where Danish Crown and Tican are currently the two largest competitors,” the commission noted. “The Commission therefore decided to partially refer the merger to the Danish Competition Authority, which will deal with the case under national law.”

Full content: Global Meat News

Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.