Islamabad: The Competition Commission of Pakistan has sanctioned two significant acquisitions in the packaging and renewable energy sectors. The approvals were given to International Paper Company for acquiring DS Smith Plc, and Pakistan Pencils (Private) Limited for acquiring YDE SA (SMC-Private) Limited.
According to Competition Commission of Pakistan, the first acquisition will see International Paper Company, a US-based leader in renewable fiber-based packaging and pulp products, take full ownership of DS Smith Plc, an England and Wales-based public limited company. DS Smith, under the umbrella of the DS Smith Group, primarily operates in corrugated packaging within the European Economic Area. Its indirect subsidiary, TMS Pakistan (Private) Limited, specializes in supplying point-of-sale display stands to a singular customer in Pakistan. The relevant market for this acquisition has been pinpointed as “Point of Sale Display Stands.”
The second approved deal involves Pakistan Pencils (Private) Limited, a prominent Pakistani stationery manufacturer, acquiring all shares of YDE SA (SMC-Private) Limited through a Share Purchase Arrangement. YDE SA, active in the design and installation of renewable energy power plants and electricity sales within Pakistan, occupies a minimal market share in the “Distributed Power Generation – Bulk Power Consumer” market as defined by NEPRA’s data.
The initial phase of competition assessment by the CCP concluded that neither transaction is expected to lead to market dominance, citing negligible market shares held by International Paper Company’s subsidiary and YDE SA in Pakistan.