EUROPE. The European Commission today cleared the way for Italian retail-to-catering group Autogrill to purchase the remaining 49.95% stake in Aldeasa that it did not already own.
As reported on 10 March, Autogrill is buying the stake from Imperial Tobacco (following its acquisition of Aldeasa) for €275 million, along with 100% of World Duty Free Europe from BAA, for £546.6 million.
The Commission said it had “granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Aldeasa SA of Spain by Autogrill SpA of Italy. Autogrill provides food and beverage and retail services for travellers worldwide. Aldeasa operates travel retail shops in Spain and Portugal, and also outside the EU. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.”
The simplified merger review procedure is in place for cases the Commission believes do not pose competition concerns.
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