The Bundeskartellamt, Germany's competition authority, has granted approval for CZECHOSLOVAK GROUP a. s. (CSG) to acquire 49% of the shares in the Hirtenberger Group and the Rába Group, both based in Hungary.

CSG is an international defense and industrial company involved in various sectors including defense, automotive, aerospace, and industrial technologies, and is known for manufacturing heavy-duty vehicles. The economic owner of CSG is Czech entrepreneur Michal Strnad.

The Hirtenberger Group specializes in the production of mortars and related ammunition, while the Rába Group manufactures vehicle components and armored personnel carriers, as well as providing maintenance and repair services for military vehicles.

Andreas Mundt, President of the Bundeskartellamt, stated that the product portfolios of CSG and the two target companies have minimal overlap and are rather complementary. While the merger is expected to create some synergies, particularly in vehicle manufacturing, the presence of strong competitors alleviates any competitive concerns. In fact, the merger could potentially enhance competition in the market.