Competition Commission Investigates Hellenic, Swissport

The Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC) is investigating the merger between Swissport Cyprus Ltd and LGS Holding Ltd's joint venture S&L Airport Services Ltd for possible anti-competitive practices, said the CPC in a statement.

The commission will also investigate a merger between Hellenic Mining Public Company, Latomia Farmakas Public Ltd and Charilaos Apostolides Public Ltd, it said.

S&L Airport Services are to be examined for a possible monopoly, because it is the only provider in the market for ground handling services. This shuts out other competitors until the termination of agreements signed between Hermes Airports and S&L, said the commission.

In the case of Hellenic Mining, the CPC will investigate whether the merger will result in overwhelming control of quarries and raw materials to the construction market, and whether this would mean that smaller operators would be shut out.