03/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - Mergers: LBO France-Aviapartner. On 30 November, the European Commission cleared the acquisition of Belgian ground handling service provider Aviapartner Holding NV by WFS Global Holding SAS of France, which is ultimately controlled by funds managed by LBO France Gestion SAS. Aviapartner and WFS both provide ground handling and other freight related services. The investigation revealed overlaps for the supply of landside cargo handling, where the parties' activities overlap at five airports, Amsterdam-Schiphol, Basel-Mulhouse, Brussels National, Frankfurt/Main and Paris Roissy-Charles de Gaulle. The Commission found that competition from other ground handlers, such as Swissport/Flightcare, would sufficiently restrain the merged entity. In addition, no substantial barriers to entry were found and new warehousing space will soon be built. It therefore authorised the deal, notified on 24 October, on the grounds that it would not cause competition problems. (FG/transl.fl)