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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 98-01-19
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-Paroleb
19/01/98
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Commission clears acquisition of parts of Pro-Group by Spar Handels
AG/ITM-Group
[02] Commission clears acquisition of Pfannkuch-Group by Spar Handels
AG/ITM-Group
[03] La Commission a autorisé la création d'une entreprise commune entre
Eastman Kodak et Sun Chemical dans le secteur des arts graphiques
[04] Commission clears the acquisition by Mannesmann of a controlling stake
in the Italian telecommunications operator Infostrada
[05] Commission approves merger in information technology sector in Denmark
[06] Commission decides to open in-depth investigations regarding the
creation of a Joint Venture between Wienerberger and Cremer & Breuer
[07] Situation d'urgence due à "El Niño" : la Commission autorise une aide
humanitaire d'une valeur de 4,1 millions d'Ecus en faveur des pays andins
[08] North Korea : Commission clears additional humanitarian aid worth ECU
10 million
[09] Poland and Czech Republic : Commission approves humanitarian aid worth
ECU 10 million
[10] Earthquake in China : Commission clears humanitarian aid worth ECU 525,
000
[01] Commission clears acquisition of parts of Pro-Group by Spar Handels
AG/ITM-Group
The European Commission has decided that the proposed acquisition of parts
of the Pro-Group by Spar Handels AG is compatible with the common market.
The concentration leads to an insignificant addition of market shares in
the food retailing market in the regions of Kassel and Hamburg. The
insignificant increase in buying power arising from the concentration does
not give rise to serious competition problems. The Spar Handels AG/ITM-
Group had a turnover of around ECU 18,000 million in 1996 and is one of the
ten leading retail groups in Germany. Its main activities are in food
retailing and wholesaling. The Pro-Group is active in the same sectors as
Spar. The turnover of the parts concerned of the Pro-Group is much less
than ECU 1,000 million.
[02] Commission clears acquisition of Pfannkuch-Group by Spar Handels
AG/ITM-Group
The European Commission has decided that the proposed acquisition of the
Pfannkuch-Group by Spar Handels AG is compatible with the common market.
The concentration leads to an insignificant addition of market shares in
the food retailing market in the regions of Southwest of Germany and
Sachsen-Anhalt. The insignificant increase in buying power arising from
the concentration does not give rise to serious competition problems.
[03] La Commission a autorisé la création d'une entreprise commune entre
Eastman Kodak et Sun Chemical dans le secteur des arts graphiques
La Commission européenne a autorisé la création d'une entreprise commune
entre Eastman Kodak et Sun Chemical dans le secteur des arts graphiques au
titre du règlement des fusions. La nouvelle entreprise commune, Kodak
Polychrome Graphics, sera active mondialement dans le secteur des arts
graphiques. Les marchés affectés par l'opération seront les films pour les
arts graphiques, les plaques offset pour l'impression, les papiers de
composition, l'équipement, les produits chimiques et les services. La
dimension géographique dans laquelle l'opération a été examinée est
l'Espace Economique Européen (EEE). Dans l'EEE, l'entreprise commune
détiendra un maximum de 33% pour les films photo et ses parts de marché
seront plus limitées sur les autres marchés affectés. Sur ces marchés sont
présents des concurrents puissants tels que Agfa-Gevaert et Fuji qui sont
actifs dans le monde entier. Ainsi, l'opération ne crée pas ou ne renforce
pas une position dominante.
[04] Commission clears the acquisition by Mannesmann of a controlling stake
in the Italian telecommunications operator Infostrada
The European Commission has authorised the acquisition by the German
company Mannesmann AG ("Mannesmann") of a controlling interest in the
Italian telecommunications operator Infostrada S.p.A. ("Infostrada").
Infostrada is an already existing company which was previously jointly
controlled by the U.S.A. company Bell Atlantic and the Italian company
Olivetti S.p.A. ("Olivetti"). Bell Atlantic sold its participation in
Infostrada on 1.12.1997. With this operation, Infostrada will be jointly
controlled by Olivetti and Mannesmann.
[05] Commission approves merger in information technology sector in Denmark
The European Commission has decided to approve an operation by which the
two Danish companies Maersk Data A/S and Den Danske Bank Aktieselskab
acquire joint control of DM Data which will encompass the parents' former
activities within the information technology sector, more specifically
centralised data processing services. However, the Commission has noted
that the transaction was concluded and put into effect several months
before its notification. Therefore, the Commission will consider to take
appropriate measures in this respect.
[06] Commission decides to open in-depth investigations regarding the
creation of a Joint Venture between Wienerberger and Cremer & Breuer
The European Commission has decided to investigate further the creation of
a Joint Venture between the Austrian undertaking Wienerberger
Baustoffindustrie AG ("Wienerberger") and the undertaking Deutsche
Steinzeug Cremer & Breuer ("Cremer & Breuer"). The parties intend to
combine their activities in the field of clay sewage pipes. The Commission
is concerned that the concentration could create a dominant position in the
market for clay pipes. The definition of the market in both product and
geographical dimensions are not yet entirely clear. Given the presumption
that clay pipes form a different product market, the Community-wide
combined, market shares of Cremer & Breuer and Wienerberger raise serious
concern. Furthermore, if Germany forms a distinct geographical market, the
marketshares of the joint venture are far above 50%.
[07] Situation d'urgence due à "El Niño" : la Commission autorise une aide
humanitaire d'une valeur de 4,1 millions d'Ecus en faveur des pays andins
La Commission européenne a débloqué une aide humanitaire d'une valeur de 4,
1 millions d'Ecus en faveur des victimes des conditions météorologiques
catastrophiques régnant dans les pays andins et dues à "El Niño". Cette
aide permettra à des organisations non-gouvernementales (ONG) européennes
de réaliser des programmes d'aide d'urgence établis par ECHO (Office
Humanitaire de la Communauté Européenne) en Equateur, au Pérou et en
Bolivie. Les ONG fourniront une aide alimentaire et médicale, des abris
temporaires, de l'eau et des systèmes d'assainissement aux victimes pendant
les six prochains mois. Les programmes seront gérés par un bureau d'ECHO
installé récemment en Equateur et chargé d'apporter l'appui logistique
nécessaire au suivi de "El Niño" et à la coordination de la réponse
européenne à ce phénomène. Cette aide non remboursable de 4,1 millions
d'Ecus fait suite à une précédente série d'actions d'une valeur de 1,535
million d'Ecus en faveur du Pérou et de l'Equateur, qui sont les deux pays
les plus touchés. Une aide supplémentaire pourrait être accordée en cas de
besoin.
[08] North Korea : Commission clears additional humanitarian aid worth ECU
10 million
The European Commission has approved an additional package of humanitarian
aid worth a total of ECU 10 million for North Koreans suffering the
consequences of a severe humanitarian crisis. It will be recalled that the
Commission had already announced a combined aid package worth more than ECU
57 million (comprising food aid and public health-related assistance) in
May 1997. This additional aid, managed by the European Community
Humanitarian Office (ECHO), will cover needs over the next six to nine
months. It will enable specialist organisations of the United Nations and
non-governmental organisations to provide emergency health cover as well as
carrying out distribution of winter clothing for children.
[09] Poland and Czech Republic : Commission approves humanitarian aid worth
ECU 10 million
The European Commission has approved humanitarian aid worth a total of ECU
10 million for regions of Poland and the Czech Republic that suffered
catastrophic floods last summer. The aid will be split as follows : ECU
6.95 million for Poland and ECU 3.05 million for the Czech Republic. Over
100 people died in the worst flood disaster ever to hit the region. Well
over 20 million people were affected by it, and the damage to property,
infrastructure and agricultural land was immense. Many homes are still
uninhabitable. Buildings that did not dry out before winter frosts are
likely to suffer further damage as they crack in the cold. The aid,
managed by the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO), will enable
European non-governmental organisations to carry out essential repairs and
rehabilitation work. ECHO's priority is to get repairs carried out to
public buildings such as old people's homes, schools and health centres, as
well as homes. This ECU 10 million package of disaster relief follows
previous ECHO funding worth ECU 4.1 million granted in the immediate
aftermath last year. Separately, the Commission's Phare programme
earmarked a total of ECU 64.6 million for a Flood Damage Reconstruction
Programme.
[10] Earthquake in China : Commission clears humanitarian aid worth ECU 525,
000
The European Commission has cleared humanitarian aid worth ECU 525,000 for
victims of the recent earthquake in China. The aid, managed by the
European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO), will enable the
International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) to carry out a programme
over the next six months. The quake struck Hebei province in north-eastern
China on January 10. Some 50 people died, over 11,000 were injured and
about 160,000 found themselves homeless in temperatures of minus 25
degrees. The IFRC will cooperate with local Red Cross organisations on a
programme to distribute clothes and blankets, to provide food and medical
aid, and to make available temporary shelters.
(for more information : F. di Robilant - tel : 296.69.40 - fax : 296.42.84)
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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