Japanese electronic giant Fujitsu won approval yesterday from the European Union (EU) to take sole control of Dutch-based Fujitsu Siemens Computers.

The European Commission, the EU's antitrust watchdog, said it had granted clearance under a simplified merger review procedure which applies to deals that arouse no suspicion of harming competition.

Fujitsu supplies information technology (IT) products and services, while Fujitsu Siemens Computers provides similar products and services, mainly in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Fujitsu Siemens Computers of the Netherlands is a joint hardware venture equally owned by Fujitsu and German industrial giant Siemens in 1999. It instantly became the number two European computer vendor measured by units shipped and number three in terms of revenue.

The new deal, which was announced in November, will allow Fujitsu to buy out Siemens' stake in the joint venture for 450 million euros (US$629 million).

Siemens has been shedding off its manufacturing businesses in recent years and is moving to energy, industry and healthcare IT businesses.