Sunweb/Corendon unconditionally cleared after Phase II investigation by the ACM

On 26 October, the Dutch Authority for Consumers & Markets (ACM) unconditionally cleared Sunweb’s proposed acquisition of Corendon following a Phase II investigation. The transaction combines two of the largest suppliers of package holidays to sunshine destinations in the Netherlands. The case was originally notified to the European Commission but referred back to the Dutch and Belgian authorities.  The Belgian competition authority cleared the transaction at an earlier stage following a Phase I investigation.  The ACM’s assessment focussed on substitution between sunshine destinations, substitution between package holidays and non-package holidays (separate bookings of flights and hotels) as well as the closeness of competition and competitive interaction between the three large suppliers of package holidays in the Netherlands (the parties and TUI).  The ACM’s press release can be found here.  RBB advised Sunweb throughout the procedures before the European Commission and the Dutch and Belgian competition authorities alongside Kirkland & Ellis, Van Bael and Bellis and De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek.