ROMANIA: The Competition Council authorized the transaction between Alexandrion and Halewood | Progresiv

The Competition Council authorized the transaction through which the Alexandrion Holdings Limited took over the Halewood Group, according to a press release from the Authority.

Alexandrion Group, the largest producer of alcoholic beverages on the local market, signed in March a contract to take over the wine division of Halewood in Romania. Thus, the companies that will be taken over are those belonging to Halewood Group, respectively, Halewood Organic S.R.L., Halewood Romania S.R.L, Halewood Wines S.R.L., Vitis Murfatlar S.R.L., Domeniile Halewood S.R.L. and Cramele Halewood S.A.

The Competition Authority analyzed this operation and found that it did not raise significant barriers to effective competition on the Romanian market or on a substantial part of it, in particular by creating or strengthening a dominant position.

Halewood is among the top 10 wine producers in terms of volume and is the second largest exporter of wines on the local market. Following this transaction, Halewood International will continue to develop the local spirits division. In recent years, the company has maintained its steady turnover around 11 million euros.

Founded in 1994, Alexandrion is the largest local spirits producer, with a business of over 180 million in 2017, up by 25% over the previous year. Alexandrion has its own brands such as Alexandrion, Brancoveanu or Saber, as well as imported brands such as Beluga vodka or Glenfiddich whiskey. Last year, Alexandrion put Romania on the map of whiskey makers, starting the production of single malt at Pleasa factory.