The Croatian Competition Agency (CCA) has cleared the transaction in which Bjelin Invest AB, a Swedish company, acquires sole control over Valinge Innovation Sweden AB. This decision was made in accordance with Article 15 paragraph 1 item 2 of the Competition Act.

Bjelin Invest AB is part of the Pervanovo Group and operates primarily in the global wood industry. The acquisition marks a transition from joint to sole control over Valinge Innovation Sweden AB and its associated entities, including the Spin Valis Group, which also operates in the wood industry.

The companies involved primarily engage in the production and sale of various wood products, including furniture, sawn timber, wooden components, panels, veneers, flooring, and briquettes. The geographic scope of their operations extends across Croatia and the EU, with the exception of the markets for purchasing wooden logs and firewood, which are limited to Croatia.

Upon receiving the complete notification of the concentration, the CCA published a request for information on its website on January 9, 2025, inviting comments from interested parties. However, no responses were received by the deadline of January 20, 2025.

After reviewing the notification and other relevant data, the CCA concluded that the concentration is unlikely to violate competition laws as outlined in Article 16 of the Competition Act. Consequently, the merger was cleared in the first phase under Article 22 paragraph 1 of the Competition Act.