Brussels, 07/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 7 February, the European Commission cleared the planned acquisition of joint control of the Spanish company MaxamCorp Holding S.L. by US based Advent International Corporation and approximately 110 individuals including Maxam's current managers, technical experts, other employees and co-investors. The Commission examined the vertical links created by the deal and concluded that the merged entity would continue to face sufficient competition in the EEA. The deal gives rise to a vertical relationship between Advent's production of the oxo-alcohol 2-ethylhexanol (2-EH) and Maxam's downstream production of 2-ethyhexyl nitrate (2-EHN), a cetane number improver for diesel fuel. The Commission found that 2-EH producers would continue to have a range of alternative customers inside and outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and that the merger would not result in any substantial change in the supply relationship between Advent and Maxam. Moreover, the Commission concluded it was unlikely that the transaction would lead to concerns relating to the supply of 2-EH to 2-EHN producers because of the existence of alternative suppliers with sufficient production capacity, the increasing trend of imports, a sufficient degree of buyer power from 2-EHN customers and a lack of incentives for the merged entity to engage in an input-foreclosure strategy. The planned buy-up was notified to the Commission on 22 December 2011. (FG/transl.fl)