!-- Hotjar Tracking Code for www.pimagazine-asia.com -->
You Are Here: Home » News » EU probe GE-Alstom deal

EU probe GE-Alstom deal

The European Union opened an in-depth probe of General Electric’s $14.1 billion takeover of the power division of French company Alstom on Monday fearing higher prices and less choice.

The European Commission made the move Monday after an initial investigation “indicates potential competition concerns in the market for heavy-duty gas turbines,” which are used in gas-fired power plants, it said in a statement.

EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said her anti-competitive concerns also included “less innovation in the sector.”

In international business, the European Commission wields major power since its rejection of a multinational deal has thwarted mergers and takeovers in the past, or forced companies into fundamental changes in agreements to meet EU concerns.

The commission said that in one sector of heavy duty gas turbines, the new GE-Alstom merged company would control about half the market in both Europe and the world, excluding China.

GE rejected the worries and said in a statement that “the gas turbine market is both global and highly competitive. We disagree with the preliminary concerns” raised by the European Commission.

The commission has until July 8 to make a final decision.

The Alstom deal is part of the U.S. conglomerate General Electric Co.’s new focus on building and servicing industrial equipment such as aircraft engines, power-plant turbines and oil and gas drilling equipment.

Beyond the heavy-duty gas turbines, the European Commission said in a statement that takeover “is not likely to raise concerns in relation to power generation equipment for nuclear, coal-fired, wind and hydro power plants.”

It said it was cooperating closely with the U.S. Justice Department

Leave a Comment

© 2023 POWER INSIDER PUBLISHING & EVENTS LIMITED - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Scroll to top
G-CVB2JBXG1C