TELEXIS/EDS CALL CENTRE SERVICES DEAL CLEARED.

The European Commission has cleared a call centre services deal giving Telexis (controlled by the Italian automotive group Fiat) and EDS the go-ahead to set up a joint venture in Italy, it confirmed on October 1. The transaction involves the market of companies which provide professional services via telephony and internet. EDS is active in Italy as a call centre outsourcer but with a small market position. Telexis, instead, provides such services only for the Fiat group. In a statement released on October 1, the Commission said: "Even taking into account the turnover generated by the services that the joint venture will be providing to the Fiat group, its market position will remain quite small. More importantly, there are a number of leading operators active in this sector such as the market leader Atesia, controlled by Telecom Italia, Europe Assistance...