Decision Nº M/04/021 from Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, 2004-06-16

• Jurisdiction: Ireland
• Court: Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (Ireland)
• Parties: InVision,GE
• Date: 16 June 2004
• Submitted Date: 14 April 2004
• Status: Preliminary investigation (Phase 1)
• Decision Number: M/04/021
• Decision Date: 16 June 2004

1

Determination No. M/04/021 of the Competition Authority, dated 16th June 2004,

under Section 21 of the Competition Act, 2002

Notification No. M/04/021 – Proposed acquisition by General Electric Company

of InVision Technologies Inc.

Introduction

1. On 14th April 2004 the Competition Authority, in accordance with Section 18 (1)

of the Competition Act, 2002 (“the Act”) was notified, on a mandatory basis, of a

proposal whereby General Electric Company (GE) would acquire InVision

Technologies Inc (InVision). On 13th May 2004, the Authority requested

information within the meaning of section 20(2) of the Act, which information

was furnished on 20th May.

The Parties

2. GE is a global diversified technology and services company incorporated in the

US. Its many divisions include GE Ion Track which is active in the infrastructure

security sector by supplying products that can be used for explosives detection.

GE Ion Track’s products, which are also referred to as “trace detection products”,

utilise technology capable of detecting minute particles or vapour emitted from

explosives and/or narcotics. GE’s trace detection products are low cost and not

fully automated. Through GE Ion Track, it had a small number of sales of trace

detection products into Ireland under €[0-500,000].

3. Through its acquisition of Agfa-Gevaert N.V. in 2003, GE is active in non-

destructive testing equipment (NDT), which allows for the technical examination

of various characteristics in materials and components without destroying the

piece being tested. GE’s NDT products include products based on X-ray

technology, but it has had no sales of NDT X-ray products into Ireland in 2003 or

in the previous three years.

4. InVision is a public company also incorporated in the United States. It is also

active in the infrastructure security sector, selling explosive detection systems to

be placed at airports. InVision’s explosives detection systems are non-invasive

large automated systems that are used to screen checked-in passenger baggage in

airports. InVision has had no sales of explosive detection products into Ireland

for the past three years.

5. InVision, through its subsidiary Yxlon is active in NDT equipment based on X-

ray and CT technologies. InVision has a small number of NDT sales into Ireland

under €[0-500,000].