Brussels, 08/02/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission approved, this Wednesday, the acquisition by Deutsche Post of Air Express International (AEI), one of the leading International American freight forwarders, active in 135 countries. So the German the national post operator, which last year had already acquired in the freight forwarding sector Danzas, Nedlloyd and ASG, strengthens its position in the position in the postal services and in the air and sea freight forwarding markets. It will become the largest air freight operator in ten European countries: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, united Kingdom, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Norway.
The Commission concluded that the operation is not of a nature to effect the competition given the presence of competitors carrying out international activities in the whole of Europe (of which some hold market shares of at least 10%) and having evaluated the combined position of Deutsche Post and AEI in the various Member States. The Commission will monitor still closely monitor the future developments, taking into account the strong position that has arisen for Deutsche Post in all the segments of the postal and transport services markets.
Mario Monti, Competition Commissioner underlined that "the worries raised in this sector by the allegations of cross-subsidisation and state backing will be fully taken into account in the State aid procedure that the Commission opened in July 1999." Competitors let it be known that Deutsche Post could use to carry out the expansion the profits made in the framework of the monopolies that it holds from its exclusive mail concession and, therefore, carry our unfair competition. Therefore this aspect remains open.