Hochtief set to win unconditional EU approval for Abertis bid - source

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU antitrust regulators are set to approve without conditions German builder Hochtief's (HOTG.DE) bid to purchase Spanish airports and motorway operator Abertis (ABE.MC), a person familiar with the matter said.

Hochtief, majority-owned by Spanish builder ACS (ACS.MC), is battling Italian airports and motorway operator Atlantia for Abertis. Its bid values Abertis at around 17.1 billion euros (£15 billion), above Atlantia's cash-and-share offer worth about 15.6 billion euros.

The European Commission, which is scheduled to decide on Hochtief's bid by Feb. 6, declined to comment.

(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; editing by Philip Blenkinsop)