The European Commission has approved the creation of a joint venture involving Yunex of Germany and Portuguese companies Via Verde and Ascendi.
The decision, taken under Article 6(1)(b) of the EU Merger Regulation, was announced on 7 February 2025.
The joint venture, named Triangle JV, will operate in the toll motorway concession sector and facilitate the distribution of on-board equipment for electronic toll collection.
One of its key projects includes supporting the implementation of a truck levy system across Dutch highways and certain regional motorways.
The joint venture will provide on-board units to truck operators, record vehicle movements and manage the collection and remittance of road usage charges to the Dutch Road Transport Agency.
It will also oversee customer service operations through a dedicated back office and contact centre.
READ MORE: Portugal ends toll charges on several major highways
Following an assessment under the EU’s simplified merger review procedure, the European Commission concluded that the transaction does not raise competition concerns.
The procedure applies to mergers and acquisitions that are deemed unlikely to have a significant impact on competition due to limited market overlap or minimal combined market share.
In this case, the Commission determined that the joint venture’s activities within the European Economic Area (EEA) are negligible and that the companies involved have a limited combined market position.
A Commission spokesperson stated: “The notified transaction was examined under the simplified procedure as the joint venture’s activities remain limited within the EEA and do not significantly alter the competitive landscape.”
Yunex develops intelligent mobility solutions and services for transport systems, while Via Verde Portugal operates electronic toll collection systems and is responsible for managing toll infrastructure, including the Blankenburg route in the Netherlands.
Ascendi, also based in Portugal, manages toll road operations and is involved in road maintenance and intelligent transport system services.
The company is also a thought leader partner of this year’s Road User Charging Conference in Brussels, Belgium, where tolling director Paulo Santos will share insights on the implementation of the multi-lane free-flow tolling system model in France, focusing on its deployment along Highway A69 – Toulouse/Castres.
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His session will examine the impact of free flow tolling on the French market, addressing both operational efficiencies and regulatory considerations.
Santos will also discuss customer-centric tolling journeys, highlighting how free-flow technology enhances user experience by eliminating physical barriers and reducing congestion.
Industry analysts suggest that the joint venture could enhance interoperability between tolling systems across different jurisdictions, particularly as EU member states explore more integrated road pricing models.
With several European countries considering national road user charging schemes, the creation of Triangle JV reflects ongoing industry efforts to modernise toll collection technology and streamline operations.
More information on the decision is available in the European Commission’s competition case register under case number M.11795.
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