Brussels, 25/09/2007 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission, on 25 September 2007, cleared the proposed concentration by which the Danish company DSB and FirstGroup plc of the UK would acquire joint control of the newly created Danish joint venture ÖRESUNDSTÅG ApS. The joint venture would operate a railway transport passenger service on the Oresund Bridge between Denmark and Sweden. DSB, which is fully owned by the Danish Ministry of Transport, is engaged in regional and inter-regional railroad transport in Denmark. It also provides railway transport services in Sweden, through its participation in Roslagtåg AB, operating the Roslagsbanan train franchise in the Stockholm area.
First does not have any activities in the railway passenger transport sector in Denmark or Sweden. Some of the services provided by DSB in Denmark, (i.e. the passenger high-frequency rail network connecting the Greater Copenhagen area, the Ystad connection service and some regional railway passenger services), would overlap to a minimal extent with the railway line to be operated by the joint venture. However, in light of the differences existing between these activities, in terms of both services offered and geographic areas covered, these services cannot be considered interchangeable with the ones to be provided by the joint venture. Moreover, given that DSB is already operating the services which would be provided by the joint venture in Denmark, the proposed transaction would not bring about any change in the Danish market. In Sweden, the proposed transaction would not give rise to any overlap between DSB's and the joint venture's activities given that these activities would be limited to the Southern part of Sweden, whereas DSB's activities are focused in the Stockholm area. The Commission concluded, then, that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Union. (cd)