Brussels, 16/02/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has approved the joint acquisition by the French construction company, Eiffage, and the Australian bank, Macquarie, of Autoroutes Paris-Rhin-Rhöne. The latter, APRR, is one of the three French toll motorway companies that are being privatised by the State (with the Société des Autoroutes du Nord et de L'Est de la France and Autoroutes du Sud de la France). After examination, the Commission noted that the transaction gives rise to marginal horizontal overlap on the market for granting motorway toll concessions. Also, on the market for the operation of toll motorways, Eiffage only works the Viaduc du Millau, located at some distance from the APPR motorway network. Also, the parties will not have more than 20% of the market shares in road construction and have offered commitments to the French State to eliminate possible concerns that the deal might hinder new competitors on the market.