CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY: STRABAG GRANTED CLEARANCE TO ACQUIRE ZUBLIN.

Austrian construction group Strabag has been given the go-ahead by the European Commission to acquire its German competitor Zublin via its holding company FIMAG. The two firms are counted amongst Germany's largest construction firms, but the Commission is convinced that the transaction will not have a negative impact on competition as the German market share of the new entity will remain limited. Zublin's operations in Austria are fairly insignificant, and therefore the takeover will only add slightly to Strabag's position in this market. Strabag is involved in all areas of the construction industry. Zublin is also operational in the building construction and civil engineering industries, whilst its subsidiary ROBA Baustoff GmbH produces and distributes building materials.

Although the transaction has been cleared...