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EU: Antitrust officials to look at Airbus Safran Launchers’ Arianespace purchase

By  |  February 21, 2016

European antitrust authorities appear poised to withhold immediate approval of the purchase by Airbus Safran Launchers of the French government’s stake in launch-service provider Arianespace pending an investigation that could last for several months, European industry officials said.

The investigation by the European Commission’s Competition Directorate-General appears to have been slowed by concerns that the Airbus satellite manufacturing division could get preferential treatment by an Airbus Safran Launchers-owned Arianespace unless specific preventive measures were taken.

Airbus Safran Launchers is intended as a 50-50 joint venture between Airbus Defence and Space and Safran, whose Snecma division builds Ariane rocket motors.

Full Content: Space News

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