European Commission Approves EP Group’s Exclusive Control Acquisition

Brussels (Eurotoday) – The European Commission has approved the purchase of sole control of International Distribution Services Plc by EP Group.

The European Commission found that the reported transaction would not increase competition concerns. In particular, the EU Commission reviewed the effects of the transaction on the markets for the requirement of small package delivery assistance in the Netherlands, where IDS is engaged through its subsidiary GLS and the DK Group is involved through PostNL, which it holds. 

The European Commission figured that the transaction does not present concerns in the Netherlands. It stated that the players are not especially close competitors to each other; (ii) following the transaction, there will remain acceptable options to the parties’ assistance to which customers could change; and (iii) the entrance of the latest competitors and the growth by existing ones will remain viable.

What role does EP Group play in Europe’s energy sector?

EP Group, a.s. (EPCG) is one of the most important players in the European energy infrastructure sector, mainly engaged in gas transmission, distribution, and storage. EP Group functions under the flagship of EP Infrastructure (EPIF), considered one of the largest industrial groups in the Czech Republic in terms of EBITDA. With diversified portfolios and operating subsidiaries in numerous countries, namely the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Germany, among others, EPIF maintains its position on the list. EP Group holds a very crucial gas transmission infrastructure. It controls a key pipeline, the Eustream pipeline, through which a big corridor for the deliveries of gas is taken to Western, Central, and Southern Europe.