Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (FCCA) to initiate further proceedings regarding the merger of Univet and Animagi

The Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (FCCA) has initiated further proceedings concerning an acquisition whereby EQT, a private equity investor, is to gain sole control over the Animagi Oy chain of veterinary service clinics.

EQT already owns Univet Oy, a veterinary service provider that has 18 clinics in the vicinity of Finland’s largest cities. Animagi Oy has 38 clinics which are mainly located in Southern Finland and the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.

In its further proceedings, the FCCA will investigate whether the planned acquisition significantly impedes effective competition in Finland. Following these proceedings, the FCCA may approve the acquisition as such, attach conditions to the approval or request the Finnish Market Court to prohibit the acquisition. According to the Finnish Competition Act, these further proceedings cannot take longer than three months.

The decision issued by the FCCA on 13 February 2015 includes numerous business secrets of the parties involved. It cannot therefore be published until the confidential information has been removed. The public version of the decision will be posted on the FCCA’s website as soon as it has been finalised.