Brussels, 13/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - On 10 December, the European Commission cleared the proposed combination of the activities of ALSO of Switzerland and Actebis of Germany, two wholesalers of information technology (IT) products, solutions and services, consumer electronics and telecommunication products. The combined entity will be jointly controlled by the respective parent companies of ALSO and Actebis, Schindler of Switzerland (lifts and escalators, and the wholesale distribution of IT products and consumer electronics) and Droege of Germany (consulting investment group that provides management consultancy services and has majority holdings in companies active in the sectors of pharmaceuticals, safety systems and IT, consumer electronics and telecommunication products). The Commission assessed the impact of the proposed transaction on the wholesale distribution market of IT products, consumer electronics and telecommunication products in the European Economic Area. With the parties' activities overlapping only to a limited extent and there continuing to be strong competition, the Commission approved the operation of which it was notified on 5 November. (F.G./transl.rt)