Brussels, 31/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has authorised the takeover of the France's automotive filter manufacturer Filtauto SP (a subsidiary of Valeo) by its Italian rival Sogefi, owned by the De Benedetti group. The Commission examined the impact this transaction would have on the supply of equipment to motor vehicle manufacturers and found that the parties' market shares in Europe are not large and major competitors exist on the market. Moreover, motor vehicle manufacturers exert significant pressure on filter manufacturers, particularly by dint of their purchasing power. For the supply of automotive equipment to wholesalers, independent distributors, supermarkets or chains specialising in replacing worn parts, the Commission concluded that despite sometimes large combined market shares, the transaction would not create or strengthen a dominant position. Mann & Hummel and Mahle, the European leaders in this sector, will exercise a sufficiently high competitive pressure on the new company and most of its customers would change supplier in the event of a significant and lasting price increase.