The Austrian competition authority, known as BWB, has submitted a request for a thorough review regarding the proposed acquisition of IMMOunited GmbH and lexunited by Sprengnetter GmbH. This acquisition would grant Sprengnetter indirect control over both companies, raising significant competitive concerns.

The market affected by this acquisition involves various activities related to real estate and housing services, including the provision of information services and the mediation of properties. The BWB has conducted extensive data collection and surveys, engaging with over 500 companies, including customers and competitors of the merging parties.

According to the BWB, the merging parties hold market shares that exceed the threshold indicative of market dominance in the relevant market for digital services related to property valuation and market analysis. There are apprehensions that the merger could lead to increased prices and reduced competition intensity, as well as potential barriers to entry for other competitors in several candidate markets.

As a result, the BWB has determined that the merger is not eligible for approval in Phase I and requires a more detailed examination by the competition court in Phase II. The BWB has acted before the expiration of the Phase I review period to ensure that the competitive landscape is adequately assessed.

Under specific conditions, such as reaching certain revenue thresholds, mergers must be notified to the BWB for review. This merger control process is crucial for maintaining innovation, price competition, and quality competition in the market. The BWB has four weeks to conduct the initial review (Phase I), which can be extended by two weeks upon request from the merging parties. During this phase, third parties, including businesses and consumers, can express their concerns. If the review indicates that the merger would lead to a dominant market position and competitive concerns cannot be mitigated through conditions, the BWB will file a request for examination with the competition court (Phase II), which has five months to review the request, with a possible extension to six months.