EC CLEARS PORT IT VENTURE OF MAERSK DATA AND EUROGATE

EC CLEARS PORT IT VENTURE OF MAERSK DATA AND EUROGATE    The European Commission has authorized the creation by Maersk Data (USA) Inc. and Eurogate IT Services GmbH (Germany) of a joint venture, called Global Transport Solutions LLC.
   The joint venture company will provide information technology services to port terminal operators and companies that manage intermodal and marine businesses related to port terminal operations.
   Maersk Data USA Inc. is a subsidiary of the Danish shipping group A.P. Moller, which owns the global container terminal operator APM Terminals.
   Eurogate IT Services GmbH is controlled by the German container terminal group Eurogate.
   After an investigation, the European Commission said that the proposed transaction “does not give rise to any competition concerns due to the fact that there are several other established players in the markets.” It also concluded that the transaction would not create or strengthen a dominant position and would not lead to any coordination of the competitive conduct of the parent companies on the markets for IT to port terminal operators.