Press Release: Mergers: Commission approves proposed acquisition of Safilo Group by Hal

The European Commission cleared on 11 december 2009 under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Safilo Group S.p.A. of Italy, a producer and distributor of spectacles and sunglasses, by Hal Holding N. V. of the Netherlands Antilles, an international investment group. After examining the operation, the Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.