05/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - Mergers: HIG/Aviapartner. On Thursday 4 September, the European Commission gave the go-ahead to the acquisition of sole control of Belgian company Aviapartner by H.I.G. European Capital Partners SAS, a French management fund. H.I.G. SAS is a private equity firm focused on management buy-outs and recapitalisations of middle market companies as well as growth equity investments. Aviapartner and its subsidiaries provide ground handling services, in particular ramp and passenger services, cargo handling and freight related services. It is present at 27 airports in 6 European countries, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would not raise competition concerns because the parties are not active in the same markets. (EL)