Mergers: Commission approves acquisition security services company Niscayah by Securitas

IP/11/947 EUROPEAN COMMISSION - PRESS RELEASE Mergers: Commission approves acquisition security services company Niscayah by Securitas Brussels, 2 August 2011 - The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of the Niscayah Group by Securitas AB, both of Sweden. The Commission's investigation confirmed that the merged entity would continue to face competition from a number of competitors and that customers would still have sufficient alternative suppliers in all markets concerned. The Commission examined the competitive effects of the proposed acquisition, notably in the affected markets for the sale of alarm monitoring and response services, where both Securitas and Niscayah are active. The investigation showed that price increases are not likely post transaction, in particular because customers would not face difficulties in switching to competing alarm monitoring and response suppliers. Moreover, the merged entity would not be in a position to hinder the expansion of its competitors. The Commission therefore concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it. Securitas and Niscayah are both active internationally in the security services sector. Securitas provides manned guarding as well as alarm monitoring and response services to a wide range of customers. Niscayah provides electronic guarding as well as alarm monitoring...