Merger Control Proceedings Initiated In Borderline Case

The Competition Protection Office recently initiated ex officio merger control proceedings against the Federation of Slovenian Retired Persons' Societies. According to the office, the federation had acquired control over Vzajemna Zdravstvena zavarovalnica dvz, a Slovenian mutual health insurance company, but failed to notify the concentration within the statutory 30-day time limit.

Facts

The detailed facts are not yet publicly available as the procedure is still pending, but the excerpt from the decision published on the initiation of proceedings reveals that the case is unique.

The federation is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation which pursues the aims of ensuring the quality of life of retired persons and of inter-generation solidarity. Vzajemna is a health insurance company organised as a mutual company (ie, its capital is not divided into standard (transferable) shares; rather, the policy-holders become members of the company and hold