26/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - Mergers: Lombard International Assurance/Insurance Development Holding/Blackstone. On Friday 26 September, the European Commission authorised the planned acquisition of Lombard International Assurance S.A. of Luxembourg and Insurance Development Holdings AG of Switzerland by Blackstone Group L.P. of the United States. The two target companies mainly provide unit-linked life insurance and wealth-planning solutions in several European countries, Asia and Latin America. Blackstone is a global asset manager and provider of financial advisory services. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, in particular because there are no overlaps between the companies' activities. (EL)