Madrid, December 2025 — The Spanish authority has cleared Salzillo Servicios Funerarios’ acquisition of sole control of Lázaro Soto, subject to commitments after identifying potential risks in wholesale funeral services markets in the Murcia region.
Salzillo provides funeral services in Murcia and operates both in retail services and in the wholesale market for funeral homes. The company is jointly controlled by Albia Gestión de Servicios and Funespaña Dos, subsidiaries of Santa Lucía and Mapfre.
Lázaro Soto provides funeral services in the province of Murcia, including integrated retail services and wholesale funeral home and crematorium services.
The authority announced its decision in a press release on 13 January 2026.
Competition Concerns
In its initial Phase 1 review, the authority said it could not rule out potential competition risks at least in the wholesale funeral home services market in the municipality of Águilas. It also said it could not exclude the possibility of harm in the wholesale crematorium services market in the area of influence of Lorca.
Phase 2 Review and Remedies
The authority carried out a Phase 2 investigation, including market testing with competitors and a mandatory report from the Murcia regional competition defence service.
Following commitments submitted by Salzillo, the authority authorised the transaction on condition that the remedies are implemented.
Source: https://www.cnmc.es/prensa/concentraciones-diciembre-20260113?back=news
