Press Release: Mergers: Commission approves notified takeover of FIAMM’s automotive battery business by VB Autobatterie, subject to remedies

The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the acquisition by VB Autobatterie GmbH of Germany of the automotive battery business of the Italian FIAMM group. The approval decision is subject to conditions that remedies to competition concerns are also implemented. The Commission’s in-depth market investigation confirmed initial concerns (see IP/06/1674) that the proposed acquisition, as originally notified, would significantly impede competition in the respective markets for car and truck batteries by making VB the dominant player. The Commission concluded that the implementation of the planned merger as modified by the remedies offered, would not significantly impede competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.