Slovakia: The Antitrust Office has cleared the takeover of Vychodoslovenske Stavebne Hmoty (VSH) by Holcim Slovensko provided that Holcim sells its terminal in Vlkanova in Banska Bystrica County to an independent buyer linked neither to the companies nor to their groups. The watchdog conditioned the transaction in this way because it posed threats to the economic competition on the relevant market specialised in production and sale of grey cement and several local ready-mixed concrete markets.
Holcim, therefore, has proposed to sell the terminal. The regulator maintains that the new owner must be experienced and capable of preserving and developing the existing business and it must be able to expose Holcim to efficient competition after it takes over VSH. The decision on a suitable owner will be made by the watchdog. The terminal supplies cement made in the plant in Rohoznik to customers in the entire county.