Press Release: Mergers: Commission approves proposed acquisition of aerospace division of Smiths Group by General Electric

The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of the aerospace division of Smiths Group plc (Smiths Aerospace) of the UK by General Electric Company (GE) of the US. GE is a leading supplier of aircraft engines. Smiths Aerospace is a supplier to civil and military aerospace of aircraft equipments and engine components. The Commission carefully examined whether the new entity would be able to restrict access to key components or key technological input for its downstream aircraft engine rivals. The Commission's investigation found that the proposed transaction would not significantly impede competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.