EC TO PROBE ORIGIN OF DEUTSCHE POST TAKEOVER FUNDS
Karel Van Miert, the competition commissioner of the European
Commission, said that the EC intends to probe the origin of funds used by Deutsche Post to
acquire Nedlloyd’s land transport activities.
Although the EC has approved the acquisition, the Brussels competition
regulator said that it would address concerns raised by competitors. Competitors of
Deutsche Post allege that the German group "has access to funds, which have not been
earned on the market," the EC said.
They fear that these funds "enable Deutsche Post to finance its
acquisitions and – unlike its private competitors – to operate on the market without due
regard to adequate returns, thus creating a distortion in competition."
Van Miert announced EC’s intention to look at the origins of the funds
for the acquisition and possible distortions of competition under the European Union’s
rules on state aids and public enterprises.
