BRUSSELS (Reuters) - British engineering group GKN Plc secured EU regulatory approval on Monday to purchase Volvo AB's aerospace unit for 633 million pounds ($1.01 billion), to boost its presence in the fast-growing civil aircraft industry.
GKN (GKN.LO)said when it unveiled the deal in July that the civil aviation sector is expected to almost double in size over the next 20 years.
VOLVO (VOLVB.ES)Aero's customers include General Electric, Pratt & Whitney -- part of United Technologies -- and Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc.
The European Commission said its investigation showed the proposed deal would not significantly reduce supply options to customers.
"The merged entity would continue to face a competitive constraint from third parties and ... the supply options open to customers would not be significantly reduced as a result of the transaction," the EU executive said in a statement. ($1 = 0.6296 British pounds)
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; editing by Rex Merrifield)