• The President of UOKiK has authorized the take-over, by Sarantis, of a portion of assets belonging to two companies: PZ Cussons International and PZ Cussons Polska.
• The Authority has conducted a relevant market survey.
• The proceedings have indicated that the transaction will not lead to the restriction of competition.

The transaction was first reported to UOKiK at the end of August 2019. The Sarantis Group sells products of 80 brands, including, inter alia, STR8, Kolastyna and Jan Niezbędny. In Poland, the Group offers primarily soap bars, shower gels, deodorants, perfume, detergents and various household necessities. PZ Cussons International and PZ Cussons Polska, in turn, are known on the Polish market thanks to such brands as Luksja, Carex and Morning Fresh. Sarantis plans to purchase some of the assets of the two latter companies that are related to marketing and selling Luksja products.

A survey of the Polish soap bar market was required in this particular case in order to verify the data provided by Sarantis. UOKiK distributed a questionnaire that was filled out by the competitors and business partners of the entities participating in the concentration scheme. The survey has indicated that the transaction will not lead to the restriction of competition. Hence, the transaction was approved by the Authority.

Additional information

Pursuant to the Act on Competition and Consumer Protection, concentration-related proceedings are of the two-stage variety. The first stage takes up to a month to complete. In exceptionally complicated cases in which the risk of significant restriction of concentration exists or in which a market survey is required, the proceedings may last longer.

Information about all concentration-related anti-monopoly proceedings conducted by the Authority is available at the UOKiK website. Additional guidelines concerning entrepreneur concentration schemes may be found in a special report.

Additional information for the media:

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