• UOKiK approved a merger of two clothing companies: Vistula Group and Bytom
• The proceedings conducted by UOKiK demonstrated that the transaction shall not result in a restriction of competition.

The undertakings involved in the concentration scheme design and sell branded clothing and accessories. Vistula specialises in clothing for both men and women, as well as in wristwatches and jewellery. Through a network of subsidiaries, the company owns brands such as Lantier, Vesari, Wólczanka, Lambert, W.KRUK and Deni Cler. Vistula Group sells the majority of its products in Poland. Bytom, on the other hand, focuses primarily on the menswear market. It sells its products through a network of company-owned and franchise stores, as well as online. In addition, it also maintains limited-scale wholesale operations under the Intermoda brand. Bytom operates exclusively in the Polish territory.

The merger will consist in transferring all assets of Bytom to Vistula in exchange for shares of the latter. According to the information from the companies, both brands will still be present on the market after the transaction.

The proceedings entered the second stage. In this case, the Authority had to conduct
a market research. It covered 27 competitors of Vistula Group and Bytom. UOKiK's questions related to the value of sales revenues in stores and on-line, the number and location of stores, as well as opinions on the concentration and its effects. The necessity to conduct a thorough market research along with the time of waiting by UOKiK for supplementing the application by the undertakings involved in the concentration scheme significantly extended the duration of proceedings.

The analysis of the concentration scheme led the Authority to conclusion that its participants compete with each other and other entities on the market of elegant middle-class menswear. However, they do not compete with manufacturers of luxury brands and the cheapest clothes as well. Children’s, youth and women's clothing are also separate products.

In turn, in geographic terms, the Authority examined both the impact of the transaction on competition in individual towns, where Vistula and Bytom operate, as well as in the country as a whole.

“The analysis carried out by UOKiK demonstrated that there would be no restriction of competition on any of the markets where Vistula Group and Bytom operate. That is why the Authority approved the merger of these undertakings,” says the president of UOKiK, Marek Niechciał.

According to the law, the merger is subject to notification to the antitrust authority if it involves undertakings whose aggregate turnover generated in the preceding year exceeded EUR 1 billion worldwide or EUR 50 million in Poland.

The decisions approving the concentration expire if the transaction is not completed within 2 years of the adoption thereof. The UOKiK website publishes information on all concentration-related antitrust proceedings conducted by the Authority. More information about the principles governing mergers can be found in a dedicated paper.

Additional information for the media:

Additional information for the media:

UOKiK Press Office 
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warszawa
Phone: +48 695 902 088
Email: biuroprasowe@uokik.gov.pl

Twitter: @UOKiKgovPL