Title: Hamelin Group Touts Potential Pelikan Takeover, Assured of Maintained Competition
The Hamelin Group, a German firm renowned for private label office supplies, may be on the verge of acquiring Pelikan, a renowned stationery manufacturer. On Tuesday, the Federal Cartel Office, located in Bonn, gave its seal of approval. In a statement, Andreas Mundt, President of the Federal Cartel Office, stated that consumers and retailers in Germany would still have a variety of alternatives from different stationery manufacturers after the merger, with no significant impact on competition anticipated.
Delving into the details, both Hamelin and Pelikan are active in the manufacture and global distribution of paper, office supplies, and stationery. Hamelin predominantly operates in Germany, with significant market presence through the brands "Oxford", "Landré" and "Elba" in the notebooks, pads, and filing products segments. Pelikan, on the other hand, is more prominent in Germany in the writing instruments, writing instrument accessories, and painting and craft supplies segments, with "Pelikan", "Herlitz" and "SusyCard" as their label.
Notably, Hamelin also manufactures private label products that retailers sell under their own brand names. The Cartel Office pointed out overlaps, particularly in notebooks, pads, spiral articles, and coloring and drawing pads. The Cartel Office mentioned surveying nearly 100 companies from the industry to support its market analysis.
Establishing the big players in the German market, the Cartel Office highlighted Baier & Schneider (Heilbronn) and its "Brunnen" brand, and the Staufen Premium and Format Werk group of companies with the "Staufen" brand as major competitors in the office supplies and stationery sector.
In light of the Federal Cartel Office's approval, the acquisition is poised to bring forth significant changes in the German market. As Hamelin and Pelikan compete within specific segments, the market will continue to be dynamic, promoting innovation and competition in the long run.
In conclusion, despite the possible acquisition by the Hamelin Group, it seems that the German market will remain competitive, offering various alternatives from other stationery manufacturers. The synergy between the two companies could potentially lead to a stronger market presence, improved product offerings, and beneficial deals for retailers and consumers alike.
