21/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - Mergers: Whirlpool/ALNO. On 20 November, the European Commission gave the go-ahead to the planned acquisition of German kitchen manufacturer ALNO AG by the US household appliances company Whirlpool Corporation. The Commission's investigation showed that there were enough alternative suppliers with significant market shares, both in the supply of domestic appliances and in the manufacture and marketing of kitchen furniture. The investigation showed that there are not overlaps between the parties' activities. The transaction would only give rise to a vertical relationship in Germany, where ALNO generates most of its turnover. Both upstream and downstream, the investigation showed that the parties have moderate shares of the market and the Commission therefore authorised the deal, notified on 12 October 2012. (FG/transl.fl)