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The investigation into the possible sale of Tegut branches to Edeka is entering the next round: The Federal Cartel Office has initiated a so-called main investigation procedure and has thus gained significantly more time for the decision.
Fulda – Edeka officially registered the planned takeover around a month ago. The package includes a total of 202 Tegut branches. There are also 41 automated “Teo” markets, the Herzberger bakery in Fulda, the Tegut headquarters also in Fulda, the logistics center in Michelsrombach and two commercial properties in Bad Brückenau and Kassel.
Tegut takeover: Federal Cartel Office deadline extended
The competition authorities are examining what effects the merger could have on the food trade – both on the supplier side and in the competition between the supermarkets themselves. It is not only the nationwide market that plays a role, but above all the situation in individual regions. The central question is: Does the takeover possibly create too strong a position for Edeka locally?
As the group of companies had already publicly stated, they were open to buying Tegut completely. However, in order to speed up the approval process at the cartel office, the branch package was limited, it was said.
The Federal Cartel Office had one month to carry out the first examination. If this is not enough because further investigations are necessary or there are competition concerns, the in-depth main examination procedure follows – this is exactly the step that has now been taken. As the authority confirmed to our newspaper, the decision deadline will be extended by a further four months. Those involved were informed about this on Tuesday (April 21). The decision is justified by the fact that additional investigations are necessary to clarify the market conditions.
Deadline extended by four months: Additional investigations to clarify market conditions
At the same time, there has been further movement in the entire takeover process. In mid-April, Rewe announced that it wanted to take over up to 40 Tegut branches. This transaction is also still subject to approval by the Federal Cartel Office. If the green light is given, Rewe wants to operate the majority of Tegut stores itself, with the rest going to the discount subsidiary Penny. Aldi Nord and Aunt Enso are also said to be interested in other locations. It remains unclear how many stores will remain or whether individual branches may be closed. As the Mainpost reported this week, the Tegut branch in Lohr am Main, Lower Franconia, will close this May.
Legal experts are sometimes critical of the planned takeovers. The antitrust lawyer at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Rupprecht Podszun, complains that the large retail chains in Germany have too much market power. He expects a particularly intensive examination by the cartel office. Podszun even believes it is possible that the authority will ban the projects in whole or in part. The spokesman for Edeka headquarters, Rolf Lange, explains: “A ban on the takeover by Edeka and other large German food retailers would have serious consequences for the supply of consumers and for thousands of jobs, as locations are threatened with closures.”
