12 June 2008 - The Czech antitrust office UOHS has given French dairy company Fromageries Bel the green light to acquire stakes in Jaromericka mlekarna and J+R dairy.
Fromageries Bel will take over 71.34% of shares in Jaromericka mlekarna and 100% in J+R.
The merger of the Bel group and the Czech companies will not harm the market in any way, the UOHS said.
In April, FLEXNEWS reported that Bel viewed the acquisitions as a significant step in its external growth strategy in Eastern Europe, and notably in the Czech Republic. The deal includes two manufacturing sites close to the plant the Bel Group already owns in the southern part of the country.
Czech Jaromericka Group, which comprises Jaromericka mlekarna and J+R dairy, processed 87 million litres of milk and produced 15,600 tons of cheese in 2007. The group employs 317 people and its turnover amounted to 54 million euro last year.
Thanks to the acquisition, Bel is reinforcing its solid positions in the Czech Republic and will enter the hard cheese segment.