Brussels, 29/03/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has authorised the proposed acquisition of French company Cégélec by the French group Vinci. In a press release issued on Friday 26 March, the Commission said that the operation would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it. Cégélec is a specialist in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and heating and air-conditioning installations. The Vinci Group provides services in civil engineering, public facilities, and transport and energy infrastructure through its subsidiaries Vinci Concessions, Vinci Energies, Vinci Construction and Eurovia.
The Commission examined the impact of the proposed acquisition on competition, particularly the horizontal overlaps between Vinci and Cégélec's activities on the electrical and mechanical engineering, heating and air-conditioning market, and on the market for catenaries and overhead contact lines (used to transmit electrical energy to trains and trams). Its investigation confirmed that the parties' combined market shares were small and should be assessed in the light of the fact that they were regularly challenged through tender procedures. Moreover, the Commission says, the new entity would face competition from a large number of competitors at regional level, as well as from national firms. The Commission concluded, therefore, that the transaction would not cause any competition problems. (A.B./transl.rt)