FINNISH COMPANY RECEIVES PERMISSION TO ACQUIRE GERMAN MANUFACTURER OF PRESSURE SENSITIVE LABELS

The Finnish forestry company UPM-Kymmene Beteiligungs will be able to acquire 100 per cent of the shares of the German firm AMC AG Advanced Methods of Coating and, indirectly, control of Inter Sign, SERPRI, Print Inform Japan and ITRACO International Trading + Consulting. This transaction has been cleared by the Lithuanian competition authority Konkurencijos taryba.

On 5 August 2022 Konkurencijos taryba received the merger notification. Having assessed the circumstances related to the transaction, the authority concluded that the intended merger would not create or strengthen the dominant position or significantly restrict competition in the relevant markets.

UPM-Kymmene Beteiligungs, which operates in many countries, offers recyclable products made from renewable raw materials. The forestry company conducts its activities through divisions (groups of companies) which are engaged in different activities. Raflatac division offers materials for pressure sensitive labels used for branding and promotion, as well as for labeling products. UPM Biorefining conducts cellulose, wood and biofuel business activities, while UPM Energy produces electricity. UPM Specialty Papers offers labeling and packaging materials, as well as office and graph paper, UPM Communication Papers – graph paper, UPM Plywood – WISA® plywood and plywood products. UPM Forest, UPM Biochemicals, UPM Biocomposites and UPM Biomedicals divisions manage private forests in the Northern Europe, as well as produce wood-based diesel, and supply wood and biomass to UPM-Kymmene Beteiligungs businesses.

Together with its subsidiaries AMC AG Advanced Methods of Coating has three business divisions: Intercoat, Global Notes and Print Inform. The activities of Intercoat are focused on the production of pressure sensitive labels and viscom / graphics materials, while Global Notes and Print Inform divisions distribute adhesive stationery products.

SERPRI sells the products of AMC AG Advanced Methods of Coating in Spain and Portugal, while Print Inform Japan – in Japan.

ITRACO International Trading + Consulting is active in the trade of press supplies, adhesives, equipment used for printing pressure sensitive labels and spare parts. The company also provides technical maintenance and consulting services in the Baltic countries and in the Commonwealth of Independent States. Inter Sign does not conduct any economic activities.

The parties to the merger do not have any registered companies in Lithuania, however, since their income in Lithuania exceeds the limits established in the Law on Competition, the firms had to obtain the permission of Konkurencijos taryba to implement the merger.

The Law on Competition stipulates that the intended merger must be notified to Konkurencijos taryba and clearance must be obtained if the combined aggregate income of merging parties in the business year preceding the merger exceeds EUR 20 million and the aggregate income of each of at least two merging parties in the business year preceding the merger exceeds EUR 2 million.