Getinge/Heraeus cleared subject to obligations
19.06.2002
The Bundeskartellamt has cleared the acquisition of Heraeus Medical Division by Getinge Industrier AB, Sweden, only subject to obligations.
With its subsidiary Maquet GmbH, Rastatt, Getinge holds a dominant position in the market for operation table systems for hospitals and clinics. By acquiring Heraeus Medical Division, the leading company in the market for surgery lamps, Getinge would have strengthened its dominant position. Getinge, as the sole manufacturer of both operation table systems and surgery lamps, would have been able to supply package solutions at a lower price and to squeeze competitive products out of the market.
According to the President of the Bundeskartellamt, Ulf Böge, the obligations prevented Getinge from offering package solutions with the intention of expelling competitive products from the market through specific price or terms concessions. At the same time they made sure that specialised dealers would not be subject to actual or legal restrictions in marketing products that are in competition with Heraeus products. This ensured that Getinge’s position in the market for table systems would not be strengthened.
The Bundeskartellamt’s decision is available in its original wording at www.bundeskartellamt.de.