21/09/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has authorised the proposed takeover of the US-based Spectra by the Germany company, Linde. Both companies are active in specialty gases, with Linde having further activities in industrial gases. Their activities overlap on the EEA markets for a number of specialty gases, such as noble gases, inert gas mixtures, brominated compound gas mixtures and fluorine gas mixtures but both parties will continue to face up to effective competition from other large gas companies, the Commission said after the investigation. The entity formed from the merger would also be faced with large international customers that could produce certain specialty gas mixtures themselves or easily sponsor new entries to the market, the Commission said.