Brussels, 11/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has authorised the Italian industrial group EL.FI to take control of Mouliinex, French manufacturer of small electrical household goods EL.FI already has a 26.5% stake). At the end of the operation EL.FI, which has control of the electrical household company Brandt, will have a 74.3% stake in the new entity, the remainder being spread among the public. The investigation demonstrated that the groups Moulinex and Brandt hold, for the most part, complementary product ranges, but that they both market microwave ovens in Europe. The combined market share of Moulinex and Brandt in the sector will be between 15% and 20% and will not therefore be able to create or strengthen a dominant position. The presence of several credible rivals of different sizes and the growth in imports of microwave ovens from Asia convinced the Commission not to oppose the operation.