Press Release: Mergers: Commission approves proposed acquisition of Spectra by Linde

The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed takeover of the US-based Spectra by the German company Linde. Both companies are active in specialty gases with Linde having further activities in industrial gases. The Commission concluded that the envisaged operation would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it, as the parties will continue to face effective competition from other big gas companies and entry from neighbouring markets is relatively easy.