Brussels, 23/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - On 19 April, the European Commission cleared the planned acquisition of Synthes Inc. by Johnson & Johnson, both of them US companies active in the area of orthopaedic medical devices. The authorisation is subject to respect of pledges made by Johnson & Johnson to sell off its entire trauma business in the EEA (European Economic Area) in order to remove the overlap in this area. The detailed investigation into the deal, which started in November 2011, revealed that Johnson & Johnson would have a very high share of this market, a relatively high product maturity and Synthes' exclusive relations with AO Foundation, a highly reputed Swiss surgeon-led body, which would that surgeons were unlikely to use other trauma care equipment suppliers, and therefore the market would be unattractive to other players. Johnson & Johnson's pledges reassured the Commission that there would be sufficient competition in the market after the deal. (FG/transl.fl)