31/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - SAFRAN authorised to acquire SNPE solid rocket propulsion business. On Thursday 31 March, the European Commission cleared SAFRAN's proposed acquisition of the solid rocket propulsion business of French state-owned SNPE, composed of SNPE's subsidiary SNPE Matériaux Energétiques and SNPE's participation in REGULUS, a joint venture between SNPE and the Italian company Avio. SAFRAN is a French company active mainly in aerospace propulsion, aircraft equipment, defence and security. SNPE Matériaux Energétiques and Regulus operate in the sectors of tactical, strategic and spatial propulsion, energetic equipment and composite materials. After investigation, the Commission concluded that the activities of the parties were largely complementary. In a press release, it says, too, that the combination of SAFRAN's and SME's activities “would not lead to foreclose input or customers given the presence of alternative suppliers, the already existing relations between the parties and the rather limited presence of SAFRAN on the markets concerned”. (F.G./transl.rt)