The European Union (EU) approved Apple's acquisition of Beats Electronics and Beats Music under the EU merger regulation, according to the European Commission on Monday.

The Commission concluded that the acquisition did not raise competition concerns because the combined market share of Apple and Beats Electronics was low, both of which sell headphones in the European Economic Area (EEA).

Moreover, it would face competitions from a large number of global competitors such as Bose, Sennheiser and Sony after the transaction.

The Commission also examined the transaction's likely effects on the distribution of digital music to consumers. Apple offered a music downloading service through iTunes and Beats Music offered a music streaming service, though the latter is not currently available in the EEA.

Apple faces several competitors in the EEA such as Spotify and Deezer, so the acquisition would hardly lead to anti-competitive effects, concluded the Commission.

The Commission also mentioned that the transaction would not entitle Apple to shut out competing streaming services from access to iOS, Apple's operating system for mobile devices, as Apple was already active in the distribution of digital music before the merger.

Established in 2008, Beats Electronics designed, developed and sold audio products such as headphones and audio speakers.

Beats Music was spun out of Beats Electronics in 2013 and offered a music streaming service in the United States and Australia, allowing consumers to receive music on their mobile device or computer for a monthly or yearly fee. Endit

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