The Bundeskartellamt has officially cleared the acquisition of Pelikan by the Hamelin Group after thorough investigations. The authority noted that while the combined market shares of Pelikan and Hamelin are significant in certain segments, the merger is not expected to impede effective competition.

Both companies are involved in the manufacturing of paper products, office supplies, and stationery, but they focus on different product categories. Hamelin primarily operates in the notepad and filing product segments under brands like 'Oxford' and 'ELBA', while Pelikan specializes in writing utensils and art supplies, marketed under brands such as 'Pelikan' and 'Herlitz'. The merger does present some overlaps in areas like exercise books and colouring pads.

To evaluate the competitive impact of the merger, the Bundeskartellamt consulted approximately 100 competitors and customers. Key competitors identified include Baier & Schneider GmbH and the Staufen Premium GmbH group, both of which maintain strong market positions. The investigation revealed that these competitors have sufficient capacity to accommodate customers who may wish to switch suppliers, even during peak demand periods.

Furthermore, the pricing strategies of Hamelin and Pelikan are constrained by the presence of powerful retail chains in the market, ensuring that competition remains robust.