Brussels, 17/09/2012 (Agence Europe) - On 14 September, the European Commission cleared the proposed acquisition of joint control over Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH (EFW) by EADS Deutschland and aircraft maintenance provider Singapore Technologies Aerospace (STA). EFW is currently solely owned by EADS. The transaction was notified to the Commission on 8 August 2012 and occurs in the wider context of a proposed cooperation between Airbus, EFW and STA concerning the following activities: the set-up of a new “passenger-to freighter” (P2F) aircraft conversion for Airbus A330, the offering of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services and the production of components for Airbus aircraft. Although the parties' activities overlap for P2F conversion and heavy maintenance, the Commission's investigation showed that in the market for P2F conversion the merging parties would have a relatively limited combined market position and that a significant number of alternative competitors can easily enter the P2F conversion market. It therefore concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area. (FG/transl.fl)