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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 99-12-07
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Spokesman's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi du Porte-Parole 07/12/1999b
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Commission clears acquisition by Heinz Company (USA) of United
Biscuits (UK) frozen and chilled food business
[02] La Commission autorise une op�ration de concentration dans le secteur
du tabac entre Seita et Tabacalera
[03] Commission clears acquisition of sole control by Avnet Inc. over the
SEI brand activities of Sonepar in the electronic components wholesale
distribution sector
[04] Commission clears a joint venture between UPM-Kymmene, Stora Enso and
Mets�liitto
[05] La Commission autorise la cr�ation de l'entreprise commune BOL Spain
par Bertelsmann AG et Planeta Corporaci�n S.R.L.
[06] Business and Consumer Surveys, first results : favourable economic
conditions continue in the EU in November 1999
[07] La Commission pr�sente une nouvelle initiative en faveur d'un
d�veloppement durable dans les zones urbaines
[01] Commission clears acquisition by Heinz Company (USA) of United
Biscuits (UK) frozen and chilled food business
The European Commission has authorised the acquisition by Heinz Europe
Limited, a subsidiary of H.J. Heinz Company, of UB Frozen & Chilled Foods
Limited, the business unit of United Biscuits that is engaged in the
processing and supply to resellers of frozen and chilled foods. The
Commission found that the acquisition does not give rise to competition
concerns as the parties will continue to face competition from other
producers and retailers of frozen and chilled pizzas, ready-made meals and
desserts in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
[02] La Commission autorise une op�ration de concentration dans le secteur
du tabac entre Seita et Tabacalera
La Commission europ�enne a autoris� une op�ration de concentration dans le
secteur du tabac entre Seita (France) et Tabacalera (Espagne), aboutissant
� la cr�ation d'Altadis. Seita et Tabacalera occupent des positions tr�s
solides dans le secteur du tabac noir et jouissent de facto d'un quasi-
monopole dans celui de la distribution de tabac en gros. La Commission est
toutefois parvenue � la conclusion que l'op�ration n'aurait pas pour effet
de renforcer les positions des parties sur leurs march�s respectifs et,
dans le secteur du tabac en g�n�ral, les parties doivent faire face � la
concurrence des grandes entreprises internationales.
[03] Commission clears acquisition of sole control by Avnet Inc. over the
SEI brand activities of Sonepar in the electronic components wholesale
distribution sector
The European Commission has authorised an operation whereby the US company
Avnet Inc. will acquire full ownership of the Dutch subsidiary of Sonepar,
Eurotronics B.V., in which it already held a minority shareholding, and
through whose subsidiaries Sonepar has been active in the wholesale
distribution of electronic components under the SEI brand name.
[04] Commission clears a joint venture between UPM-Kymmene, Stora Enso and
Mets�liitto
The European Commission has decided to approve a joint venture between the
Finnish pulp and paper producers UPM-Kymmene, Stora Enso and Mets�liitto.
The joint venture will be active in the repair and maintenance of small-
size boats destined both for professional and recreational use, but it will
not have any activities in shipbuilding. The joint venture will carry out
its activities mainly in a specific area in Finland (the lake Saimaa
region). In view of the limited nature of the transaction and given the
existence of a large number of competitors, the Commission has decided to
approve the transaction and to declare it compatible with the common
market.
[05] La Commission autorise la cr�ation de l'entreprise commune BOL Spain
par Bertelsmann AG et Planeta Corporaci�n S.R.L.
La Commission europ�enne donne son feu vert � la concentration entre
Bertelsmann AG et Planeta Corporaci�n S.R.L. Par cette op�ration, les
parties obtiendront le contr�le en commun de Books On-Line Ib�rica, S.A
(BOL Spain). L'op�ration ne conduira ni � la cr�ation ni au renforcement
d'une position dominante.
[06] Business and Consumer Surveys, first results : favourable economic
conditions continue in the EU in November 1999
(! embargo 12 am !) The composite economic sentiment indicator for November
reveals a 0.7 point improvement in the euro-zone and an equal rise in the
European Union (EU), compared to October. The main contributors to this
situation have been France with a full percentage point rise, and Germany
with half a percentage point and Italy and Spain with smaller, but still
significant, increases. Confidence in the industrial sector increased in
November in the EU, and even more strongly in the euro-area. The
construction confidence indicator has experienced a quite impressive rise
in November, five points in the case of the EU and seven points for the
euro-area. Consumer confidence in the EU remained unchanged in November
after two consecutive rises in the previous months. However, in the euro-
area there has been a further advance. Consumers in both areas feel
particularly optimistic about the advisability of making major purchases of
durable consumer goods and about the present general economic situation
compared to 12 months earlier.
[07] La Commission pr�sente une nouvelle initiative en faveur d'un
d�veloppement durable dans les zones urbaines
La Commission europ�enne a pr�sent� une proposition de cadre communautaire
de coop�ration favorisant le d�veloppement durable en milieu urbain. La
proposition vise aussi � promouvoir l'Agenda 21, le sch�ma directeur des
actions � entreprendre pour assurer un avenir durable, adopt� � Rio lors du
Sommet de la Terre en juin 1992, ainsi que le caract�re soutenable du
d�veloppement au niveau local. Ce nouvel instrument juridique permettra �
la Commission d'am�liorer sa collaboration dans ces domaines avec les
autorit�s locales gr�ce � des r�seaux de villes europ�ennes. Le projet de
d�cision pr�voit un budget de 12 millions d'euros sur quatre ans (2001-
2004). Ces fonds seront affect�s au soutien et � l'aide apport�s par la
Commission � des activit�s telles que la sensibilisation, l'�change
d'informations et les bonnes pratiques dans le cadre d'un d�veloppement
urbain durable.
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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