THE European Commission (EC) confirmed on July 13 that it has launched an “in-depth” investigation into the merger of Siemens mobility and Alstom amid concerns that the combination may adversely affect competition in the signalling and rolling stock markets.

The EC says fears the transaction could lead to “higher prices, less choice and less innovation due to reduced competitive pressure in rolling stock and signalling tenders.”

The decision to launch an investigation follows a study into the potential impact of the merger both within the European Economic Area (EEA) and globally (excluding China, Japan and Korea). In both the signalling and rolling stock sectors, the commission argues that the merger would create an entity much larger than its nearest rivals and remove “a very strong competitor” from the market.

Furthermore, the EC has found that the entry of significant new competitors into the EEA rolling stock and signalling markets, including Chinese suppliers, appears “unlikely” to occur in the foreseeable future.

The Commission now has until November 21 to decide whether the merger is likely to have a detrimental impact on competition.