On April 17, 2026, the Slovak competition authority (PMÚ) approved a merger in the recycling sector, where Loacker Recycling GmbH from Austria, along with Filip Klement, Jakub Klement, and Kateřina Picková Klementová from the Czech Republic, will gain joint control over SAKER spol. s.r.o., also from the Czech Republic.

Loacker Recycling GmbH is part of the international Loacker Group and operates in waste management, focusing on the collection, processing, and sale of ferrous and non-ferrous metal scrap. In Slovakia, it operates through its subsidiary SAKER, s.r.o., which it acquired from the Klement family in 2019 and currently runs four facilities for metal scrap collection and processing.

Prior to the merger, SAKER spol. s.r.o. was solely controlled by the Klement family and operates in the collection, processing, and sale of metal scrap, as well as aluminum ingot production. It does not have its own operations in Slovakia.

The PMÚ assessed the overlap in activities between the merging parties in the collection and sale of metal scrap. It found that there are several significant competitors in these areas, and SAKER spol. s.r.o. does not operate in Slovakia through its own infrastructure.

In terms of raw material collection, local overlaps were identified mainly in border areas of Slovakia. However, due to the presence of multiple competitors in the region, the market position of the Loacker Group is not significantly affected by the merger, resulting in only a marginal market increase. There are also sufficient relevant competitors in the sale of both ferrous and non-ferrous metal scrap.

The PMÚ also examined the risks of restricting competitors' access to inputs or customers due to the integration of collection and subsequent processing or sale of non-ferrous metal scrap, considering the acquired company's activities in aluminum ingot production. The assessment took into account the market structure for non-ferrous metal scrap sales and the presence of several established players in the supply chain, including vertically integrated entities.

Based on its findings, the PMÚ concluded that the merger does not threaten effective competition in the relevant markets. The decision became final on April 22, 2026.