05/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - Mergers. On Thursday 5 May, the European Commission authorised the US group, Caterpillar, which manufactures and sells machinery, motors and spare parts for mining equipment, to buy up Bucyrus, another US firm that produces and sells mining equipment and spare parts, and provides after-sales services. The Commission mainly examined the market for open sky mining trucks, a relatively concentrated and specific market with only a few large players active in the production of this type of truck. Whilst the transaction will result in high combined market shares worldwide, the additional increase in market share accounted for by Bucyrus is relatively low. Furthermore, the two companies are not viewed as each other's closest competitors and several other large players will remain on the market. Consequently, the Commission concluded that the operation, notified on 14 March this year, will not hamper competition within the EEA. (F.G./transl.jl)