Acquisition of LangeLand hospital by care provider Vierstroom cleared

Dutch care provider Vierstroom is allowed to acquire LangeLand Hospital in the city of Zoetermeer. The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has cleared the acquisition. The case involves an acquisition of a hospital by a care provider that is active in, among other areas, home care and various other services combining living arrangements with elderly care. Vierstroom and LangeLand offer different types of care. Their activities do not overlap, and they do not directly compete with one another. However, both parties do refer patients and clients to one another. ACM assessed whether this might affect competition.

Chris Fonteijn, Chairman of the Board of ACM, comments: ‘Only a small percentage of Vierstroom’s clients is referred to Vierstroom by a hospital. So there is enough room left for competitors.’ The assessment of ACM revealed that one in three inhabitants of Zoetermeer goes to a hospital other than LangeLand. In recent years, LangeLand already referred clients solely to Vierstroom. At the same time, a new competitor of Vierstroom last year appeared to have managed achieving a strong position.