16/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - General Electric receives statement of objections. On Monday 15 June, European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager said that sending US giant General Electric (GE) a statement of objections on its acquisition of the thermal energy branch of French company Alstom was “a very ordinary event”. On Friday 12 June, General Electric announced that it had received such a statement of objections. In February, the European Commission opened an in-depth investigation into the deal. In the Commission's opinion, the planned operation - which would bring together the activities of GE (the world's biggest producer of turbines) and Alstom - would drive one of GE's three main global competitors out of the market (see EUROPE 11261). In May, GE was said to be ready for concessions. (EL)