10/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - Mergers: Kinetic Concepts/APAX. On Friday 7 October, the European Commission cleared the proposed acquisition of US medical supplier Kinetic Concepts, Inc. by UK-based APAX Partners LLP, a private equity fund manager. The operation, notified on 2 September last, provoked a number of vertical distortions: Kinetic manufacturers products for treating wounds, tissue matrices and specialised hospital beds, whereas APAX owns hospital management companies in different European countries. The Commission concluded, however, that the merger would not restrict competition because competing hospitals would be able to obtain products for treating wounds from the new undertaking and the other providers of the same products would be able to continue supplying hospitals. (FG/transl.fl)