The Dutch Competition Authority approves merger between companies active in the field of ship construction and repair (Damen / Shipdock)

On 25 January 2013, the Netherlands Competition Authority ("NMa") approved a proposed concentration between Damen Shipyards Group N.V. ("Damen") and Shipdock Holding B.V. ("Shipdock"). This decision is an interesting one, because the NMa allowed the number of competitors on the relevant market to be reduced from three to two. Below we will summarize and comment on the NMa's considerations. Damen and Shipdock are Dutch undertakings that are active in the field of ship construction and repair. Under the proposed concentration, Damen would acquire all of the shares in Shipdock. At the centre of the NMa's decision are two product market related to the repair and minor conversion of the Royal Netherlands Navy's ("RNN") naval vessels [1]: one for large naval vessels and one for other naval