A corporate merger and a late communication. For these reasons, the Antitrust has initiated proceedings against Henkel Nederland BV (Hn), a company controlled by Henkel Ag & Co. KgaA. The group is active worldwide in the detergent market and achieved a turnover of 2010 billion euros in 15. It acquired sole control of Purbond International Holdings Ltd and Purbond Ag, companies that produce industrial adhesive systems, in which it already owned significant shares.
According to the Antitrust, these operations constitute a concentration. Furthermore, since the total turnover achieved in the last financial year by the companies as a whole exceeded 472 million euros, Hn was required to communicate the acquisitions to the Authority before concluding them. An obligation he has not fulfilled. For these reasons, the organization headed by Antonio Catricalà has decided to "challenge the company for violating the obligation of prior notification", as stated in the Authority's latest weekly bulletin. The proceeding has begun. Now the Hn risks a hefty fine.
