Press Release: Mergers: Commission approves proposed acquisition of sole control over German Metro-Group by Haniel

Acting under the EU Merger Regulation, the European Commission cleared the acquisition of sole control over the German retailer Metro Group by Haniel also of Germany. Haniel is already a large shareholder in Metro and intends to acquire control by way of a pooling arrangement with another shareholder, Schmidt-Ruthenbeck. The Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic area (EEA) or in any substantial part of it.