EU launches probe into Sara Lee disposal
(BRUSSELS) - European competition authorities announced on Wednesday a probe into a takeover by SC Johnson of US giant Sara Lee's household insecticide business, after concerns raised by six countries.
National competition regulators in Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Italy and Spain asked the European Commission to investigate, over-ruling what would have been automatic approval, a statement said.
Brussels will probe whether the some 150-million-euro (190-million-dollar) takover "threatens to significantly affect competition within the territory of the member states making the request," it added.
The commission is already examining separately the 1.28-billion-euro sale of Sara Lee's bodycare business to Unilever, with a final ruling due by October 22.
The 370-million-euro disposal of Sara Lee's air care business to Procter & Gamble has already been given the green light.
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