Brussels, 30/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 30 November, the European Commission approved the planned acquisition of Mobsat Holding SARL, the holding company of the Vizada Group of Luxembourg, by Astrium Holding SAS of France. The Commission concluded that the transaction would not raise competition problems, because it will only lead to a very limited increase in market shares and the merged entity will continue to face a sufficient number of competitors in all markets concerned. The Commission examined the impact of the proposed transaction on the wholesale and retail markets for mobile and fixed commercial two-way satellite communication (Comsatcom) services by land, air or sea as well as on the market for the manufacture and supply of Comsatcom equipment. Comsatcom services allow end-to-end exchanges of voice and data between several connected terminals which can be fixed or mobile. The Commission found that the proposed transaction would only give rise to very limited horizontal overlaps and vertical links between the parties' activities in all relevant market segments and that, post transaction, the merged entity will continue to face competition from a number of players. The Commission also concluded that the combination of the activities of the EADS group, to which Atrium belongs, and Vizada will not give EADS the possibility or incentive to shut out competitors in the Comsatcom sector. The bundling of the various products of the merged entities could indeed not be implemented given the existing market dynamics. (LC/transl.fl)