Fidagh’s sale of Mestdagh cleared by Belgian Competition Authority

Client(s) Fidagh S.A.

Following an in-depth review, Jones Day secured approval from the Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) for Belgian company Fidagh S.A.’s sale of Mestdagh (a 120-year-old Belgian retailer) to the French company Groupement Les Mousquetaires/Intermarché. This transaction constituted the largest acquisition in the Belgian retail landscape in the last five years.

The transaction was notified to the European Commission and then referred to the BCA. In close cooperation with industry players, the BCA carried out an in-depth analysis of the competitive situation resulting from this merger in a large number of local markets, taking into account the distance between the sales outlets of the various brands.

As antitrust counsel to Fidagh, Jones Day also advised in terminating Mestdagh’s franchise agreement with Carrefour, another major French retailer.