• UOKiK has initiated the second stage of proceedings concerning Smithfield Foods’ take-over of Pini Polonia.
• Both entrepreneurs operate on the meat production and processing market.
• A market survey is required in this particular case.

The transaction concerning Smithfield Foods’ take-over of Pini Polonia had been originally notified to the European Commission. The EC, however, referred it to UOKiK, as it was decided that the concentration affected the Polish market only. The Authority was also considered to possess the knowledge and experience necessary to investigate the case. Smithfield Foods is a global corporation operating on the meat production and processing market. In Poland, it controls, inter alia, the Animex Group and owns 8 meat production and processing plants, including six slaughterhouses. Pini Polonia belongs to the Pini capital Group, owning companies in Poland, Italy and Hungary. It operates a slaughterhouse in Kutno, and supplies meat to shops and processing plants.

The case requires that a market survey be conducted. UOKiK needs to verify whether the individual slaughterhouses compete with one another nationwide, in the region, or within
a specific distance from the plant. It is also necessary to verify the market shares that concentration participants and other entrepreneurs operating on that particular market.

The commencement of the second stage of the proceedings is by no means determinative of the ruling which may be given in the future. The President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection may approve the concentration (conditionally or unconditionally), or may prohibit the transaction.

Additional information

Pursuant to the act on competition and consumer protection, proceedings pertaining to concentration consist of two stages. The first stage of the proceedings takes up to one month; however, in particularly complex cases where there is a probability of a significant restriction of competition or where a market research needs to be carried out, such proceedings may also last longer.

Additional information for the media:

Press Office of the UOKiK 
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