17/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - Mergers: FS-Cube/Arriva Deutschland. On Wednesday 16 February, the European Commission approved the proposed acquisition of German rail transport company Arriva Deutschland by Italian national rail operator Ferrovie dello Stato and Cube Transport SCA, a subsidiary of Cube Infrastructure Fund, an investment fund specialised in infrastructure and public services and ultimately controlled by the French banking group BPCE. This transaction, of which the Commission was notified on 18 January, implements the commitments given in 2010 by German national rail operator Deutsche Bahn prior to its acquisition of the Arriva group. At that time, the Commission approved the acquisition on condition that Deutsche Bahn sell off Arriva Deutschland, which operated all of Arriva's bus and train business in Germany, to prevent Deutsche Bahn involvement in these activities. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure. (F.G./transl.rt)