Brussels, 14/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 14 June 2013, the European Commission gave the go-ahead to the acquisition of Intermec by Honeywell, both of the United States. Intermec is a manufacturer and supplier of barcode scanners, scanning engines and ruggedised mobile computers (i.e. computers that are specifically designed to operate reliably in harsh usage environments and conditions, such as strong vibrations, extreme temperatures, etc.), on the grounds that the deal would not pose any competition problems. The Commission assessed the impact of the transaction on the markets where the parties' activities overlap, in particular the markets for all types of ruggedised mobile computers, barcode scanners and scanning engines - including the possible market segment for so-called “2D” scanning engines in the European Economic Area (EEA). The Commission's investigation found that on all these markets Honeywell will continue to face competition from a number of credible suppliers following the transaction. The Commission also assessed the possible vertical relationships between the parties' activities, including in the market for the licensing of voice recognition software for inclusion in devices with voice recognition capabilities, but says the deal does not raise any concerns here because of the presence of alternative suppliers of voice recognition software and the fact that Honeywell currently has very limited presence in the downstream market for the supply of voice recognition devices. The deal was first notified on 15 February and again on 7 May, after Honeywell withdrew the initial notification. (FG/transl.fl)