Citing the need to conduct more in-depth research on the cloud computing and rolling stock markets, the competition Authority will use the full four months at its disposal to reach a decision on two acquisition applications.

Poland’s Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) has elected to extend acquisition control proceedings for two acquisition applications filed in July of this year. According to the country’s recently amended competition and consumer protection Act, UOKiK can issue decisions on a faster-track one-month timeline, which in the vast majority of cases it has done. For cases that require more in-depth market research or pose a justifiable likelihood that competition will be significantly limited, the Authority can take an additional four months to reach a decision.

In the first case it has opted to extend, multinational web hosting services provider 1&1 Internet seeks to acquire home.pl, a Polish company that also offers cloud computing and web hosting services. After analysing the evidence it collected, UOKiK decided it would need to delve further into the market to verify data the companies have presented on defining the relevant markets in which they operate as well as the share they command in them. UOKiK will seek to establish in particular what influence the acquisition would have on the domestic internet domain (.pl) market, the hosting services market and the market for services related to running online stores. The Authority also has identified a lack of reliable, publically available information on the cloud computing services market.

The second case pertains to the Industrial Development Agency’s  (Agencja Rozwoju Przemysłu, ARP) bid to acquire rail passenger transportation company Przewozy Regionalne. Here too UOKiK deemed further research necessary, particularly to gather data on the domestic rolling stock market, including the production, repair, modernisation, maintenance and purchase of electric multiple units (EMUs) and passenger cars, all of which would be affected. In addition to researching these markets, UOKiK will hear the views of the companies’ competitors and also gain the time it needs to verify data submitted by the applicants.   

Additional information for the media:

Press Office, UOKiK
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warsaw
Phone.: +48 22 827 28 92, +48 22 55 60 314, +48 22 55 60 430
E-mail: [SCODE]Yml1cm9wcmFzb3dlQHVva2lrLmdvdi5wbA==[ECODE]