MERGERS : CANON'S ACQUISITION OF I.R.I.S. CLEARED.

The European Commission authorised, on 18 February, the proposed acquisition of I.R.I.S. of Belgium by Canon Inc of Japan. Canon operates globally in a wide range of imaging solutions markets and other electronic equipment for consumers and professionals, and on the software and related services market. I.R.I.S. develops and markets software related to office automation equipment, in particular in the area of electronic document management, and sells some related hardware and services. In 2009, Canon bought a sizeable share (17%) in I.R.I.S.

Canon's friendly takeover bid, announced last September, values the Belgian firm at 69 million.

The Commission's investigation showed that the merged entity would continue to face significant competition on the office automation equipment and...