14/03/2013 (Agence Europe) - Mergers: Daimler AG/three Mercedes retailers. On 13 March 2013, the European Commission gave the go-ahead to German car company Daimler AG for its 100% buy-up of Austrian companies Mercedes-Benz Österreich Vertriebsgesellschaft and Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Austria, along with Hungarian company Mercedes-Benz Hungária. The latter three sell cars wholesale and retail and provide car-related financial services (leasing etc.) in Austria and Hungary, and were previously owned by Daimler and US advertising agency Pappas Group. The deal was examined using the simplified merger control procedure. (FG/transl.fl)