European Union Approves Audi Acquisition of Ducati

The European Union has granted approval of Audi‘s acquisition of Ducati, removing any legal barriers to the sale. The approval was expected, but an official decision was nevertheless required before the transaction could proceed.

The acquisition was announced in April but the deal was still subject to examination by anti-trust authorities. That approval came June 28 as the European Commission, the executive body of the E.U. officially granted its blessing. The Commission examined the deal under the simplified merger review procedure ruled the acquisition “does not raise serious doubts as to its compatibility with the common market” (also known as Article 6(1)(b) of the E.U. Merger Regulation.)

The text of the ruling reads:

After examination of the notification, the European Commission has concluded that the notified operation falls within the scope of the Merger Regulation and of paragraph 5(b) of the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/20043

For the reasons set out in the Notice on a simplified procedure, the European Commission has decided not to oppose the notified operation and to declare it compatible with the internal market and with the EEA  Agreement. This decision is adopted in application of Article 6(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation.

[Source: EU]

By Dennis Chung