CCP Approves Merger of European Milk Companies Working in Pakistan

The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has approved the merger of M/s. Milcobel CV with and into M/s. Zuivelcoöperatie FrieslandCampina U.A. under a merger agreement. Zuivelcoöperatie FrieslandCampina U.A., a Dutch cooperative, collects milk from the Netherlands and Belgium and processes it into a wide range of dairy products. In Pakistan, it operates through its subsidiary, FrieslandCampina Engro Pakistan Limited (FCEP), which manufactures and markets various dairy products. Milcobel CV, a Belgian cooperative, is engaged in the same line of business and markets its milk powder products in Pakistan under the brand names ‘Inco’ and ‘Binco’ through business-to-business (B2B) arrangements. The CCP’s assessment identified the relevant market as “Dairy Products – Milk Powder” with the geographic scope confined to Pakistan. After reviewing the transaction, the Commission concluded that the merger would not result in the creation or strengthening of a dominant position in the relevant market.