Brussels, 29/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 28 October, the European Commission approved a planned joint venture between EADS Defence & Security SAS (France) and Atlas Elektronik GmbH (Germany) for maritime safety and security systems (MSS). The plan was announced in June but not notified to the Commission until 24 September, but it does not raise any particular competition problems on the market or related sub-markets.
EADS D&S is a French-based system solutions provider for armed forces and civil security worldwide that belongs to the EADS group. Atlas is a German-based supplier of electronics and other equipment in the naval systems sector. It is jointly controlled by ThyssenKrupp Technologies AG (TKT) and EADS Deutschland GmbH, which belongs to the EADS group. Atlas is also active in the MSS sector through its subsidiary Atlas Maritime Security GmbH.
The new joint venture, named Sofrelog Atlas (SA) Maritime Security, will be 60% owned by EADS and 40% by Atlas and will involve the merger of Sofrelog and Atlas Maritime Security, subsidiaries of EADS D&S and Atlas respectively which are active in the manufacturing of equipment and software for security systems for coastal waters, waterways and harbours (radars, captors, sensors and the like).
By combining the two subsidiaries which have long experience in these domains, the two companies aim to create a world leader in the development, sale and running of Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) systems, and coastal surveillance systems (CSS) used to control and secure maritime borders. These are swiftly expanding industries due to the constant rise in maritime traffic and the ever greater need for securing maritime borders.
The Commission says that the deal should not raise any problems on the global maritime security market or in the VTS and CSS sub-sectors because of the limited market share of the companies in question and the presence of large competitors. (F.G./transl.fl)