UOKiK gives green light for Żywiec-Brau Union merger

Grupa Żywiec, which holds a 32% share of the beer market, might merge with Austrian Brau Union Polska, which controls over 5% of the market. Cezary Banasiński, chairman of the Competition and Consumer Protection Office (UOKiK), agreed to allow the takeover of Austrian Getraenke Beteiligungs by Dutch Heineken. The permission means that the consolidation of the two companies might now become a reality. Heineken controls Żywiec, Elbrewery, Warka, Leżajsk, Łańcut and Cieszyn breweries. On the other hand, the Austrians own Van Pur, Kujawiak and Browary Warszawskie. If the merger goes ahead, then Heineken would control 37% of the market and replace Kompania Piwowarska as the market leader. UOKiK explained that, "The market share of the merged companies, despite being high, would not exceed the 40% threshold, which we classify as a monopoly position". The Office stressed that there are several dozen other producers and this means that consumers rights are not under threat. (Parkiet, p. 5) M.M.