The Czech competition authority, known as ÚOHS, has granted approval for the Austrian company Loacker Recycling to acquire a stake in the Czech metal recycling group SAKER. This decision is now final.

SAKER operates in the processing of ferrous and non-ferrous metals within the Czech Republic. The company is involved in the collection and purchase of scrap metal, the sale of non-ferrous metal scrap, and the production and sale of aluminum ingots. SAKER controls the company Kovošrot Kroměříž and Saker Pečky, with the majority ownership previously held by a single family.

Loacker Recycling specializes in metal recycling, focusing on the collection, sorting, and processing of recyclable materials. Its main activities include processing scrap metal (iron), non-ferrous metals, and other recyclable materials such as paper, glass, plastics, residual waste, and biogenic waste. The Loacker group operates 47 facilities across seven countries, primarily in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, with additional operations in Hungary, Slovakia, Italy, and Liechtenstein.

In its assessment, ÚOHS particularly examined the areas of collection, sorting, processing, and sale of metal waste, as well as the production and sale of aluminum ingots. The authority concluded that the merger would not result in a significant distortion of competition.