Brussels, 19/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission gave the go-ahead on Wednesday 19 March 2008 to the proposed acquisition of the Spanish company Transportes Ferroviarios Especiales (Transfesa) by the German undertaking Deutsche Bahn (DB).
The two transport companies provide services in a wide range of areas, and particularly in the rail transport sector. Their activities mainly overlap with regard to freight forwarding services to car manufacturers. DB is active in the finished vehicle logistics services and car component logistics sectors via its subsidiaries ATG and SAR respectively. Transfesa provides logistics services for vehicle parts and components and finished vehicles through its subsidiary Semat. On this specialised market the new entity would own equipment which would be likely to confer a competitive advantage. However, the Commission concluded that competition would be maintained by: - the existence of current and potential competitors;
- the alternatives of road and sea transport; - the very specific needs of a limited number of large customers. The merger is therefore approved unconditionally. (C.D.)