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CR Focus 19th February 2008

To visit the "Cartel Watch" section, click here.
In the News
EC carries out dawn raids on Central Processing Units manufacturers and PC retailers >>>more>>>
 
European Notifications and Publications
European Courts

BUPA and Others v Commission of the European Communities - state aid >>>more>>>

Mergers Invitation

European Mergers - Requests for Comment >>>more>>>

Mergers Cleared

AIB/FDC/JV >>>more>>>

Bouygues/Artemis/Serendipity >>>more>>>

TDF/TSMB >>>more>>>

State Aid

ECJ upholds EC Decision over Greece's failure to comply with recovering illegal and incompatible aid to Olympic Airways Services and Olympic Airlines >>>more>>>

EC authorises Spanish corporate tax credit for revenues from patents, designs, models, plans, secret formulas and processes >>>more>>>

EC opens investigation into the funding of Ciudad de la Luz film studio complex following complaints >>>more>>>

EC refers Italy to ECJ for failing to recover €98.36 million illegal and incompatible aid granted to Nuova Mineraria Silius SpA >>>more>>>

French aid granted to Airport Marketing Services >>>more>>>

Speeches

Charlie McCreevy speech: "Copyright Levies" >>>more>>>

Charlie McCreevy speech: "Internal Market Scoreboard" >>>more>>>

Public Procurement

EC publishes guidance notes on founding of Institutionalised Public-Private Partnerships >>>more>>>

Miscellaneous

EC approves Ofcom's proposal to de-regulate wholesale broadband market in parts of UK >>>more>>>

 

UK Notifications & Publications
Competition Commission

CC publishes provisional decision on remedies in Groceries Market Investigation >>>more>>>

CC launches review of merger guidelines >>>more>>>

Mergers Invitation to Comment

UK Mergers - Requests for Comment >>>more>>>

Mergers Cleared

Nokia Siemens Networks UK Limited/Apertio Limited >>>more>>>

Mergers Cleared - Full Text Decisions

Dunfermline Press Limited/the Berkshire Regional Newspapers business from Trinity Mirror plc >>>more>>>

Stagecoach Group plc/the East Midlands Franchise >>>more>>>

Miscellaneous

OFT agrees early resolution of alleged price fixing between certain supermarkets and dairy processors >>>more>>>

Ofcom publishes update regarding dispute between H3G and each of O2, Orange and T-Mobile about donor conveyance charges >>>more>>>

Ofcom publishes update regarding own-initiative enforcement programme giving effect to General Condition 22 (Service Migrations) >>>more>>>

Ofwat grants Independent Water Networks Limited its second inset appointment >>>more>>>

Ofwat publishes leakage methodology review >>>more>>>

ORR publishes responses to consultation into a more focused approach to licence exemptions >>>more>>>

 
In the News

EC carries out dawn raids at a manufacturer of Central Processing Units and several of personal computer retailers. To read the press release, click here.

 
European Notifications and Publications
European Courts

Case T-289/03: British United Provident Association Ltd and Others v Commission of the European Communities - state aid. The CFI upheld the Commission's decision that a "risk equalisation scheme" implemented by the Irish government did not amount to illegal state aid. To read the press release, click here.

Mergers Invitation to Comment

COMP/M.4999: Heineken/Scottish & Newcastle assets - production and distribution of beer and other beverages. Interested parties should submit their comments by 26 February 2008. To read the notification, click here.

COMP/M.5024: TUI/Royal Caribbean Cruises/JV - shipping, tourism, provision of cruises. Candidate for simplified procedure. Interested parties should submit their comments by 25 February 2008. To read the notification, click here.

COMP/M.5031: ACE/CICA - insurances. Interested parties should submit their comments by 25 February 2008. To read the notification, click here.

COMP/M.5034: Montagu/GIP/Biffa - private equity, treatment, disposal and recycling of municipal, commercial, industrial waste. Candidate for simplified procedure. Interested parties should submit their comments by 26 February 2008. To read the notification, click here.

COMP/M.5037: Beko Elektronik/Grundig Multimedia - manufacture and supply of non-branded colour televisions, electrical products. Candidate for simplified procedure. Interested parties should submit their comments by 25 February 2008. To read the notification, click here.

COMP/M.5039: Brose Fahrzeugteile/Continental Assets - development and manufacture of door systems for vehicles, seats, compressor motors, motors for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Interested parties should submit their comments by 23 February 2008. To read the notification, click here.

COMP/M.5057: Aviva/UBI Vita - insurances. Interested parties should submit their comments by 25 February 2008. To read the notification, click here.

Mergers Cleared

COMP/M.4814: AIB/FDC/JV - banking and insurance services, transaction processing services. To read the decision, click here.

COMP/M.4982: Bouygues/Artemis/Serendipity - constructions, public works, real estate, spts and leisure articles, holding company, advisory and private equity. To read the decision, click here.

COMP/M.4984: TDF/TSMB - over the air and wireless B2B services to broadcasters and telecoms operators, analogue and digital TV. To read the decision, click here.

State Aid

The ECJ has upheld the EC Decision over Greece's failure to comply with the recovery of illegal and incompatible aid to Olympic Airways Services and Olympic Airlines. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has authorised a Spanish corporate tax credit for revenues from patents, designs, models, plans, secret formulas and processes. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has opened an investigation following complaints into the funding of Ciudad de la Luz film studio complex near Alicante in Spain and whether the funding by Valencia Regional Government constitutes illegal state aid distorting competition between European film studios. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has referred Italy to the ECJ for failing to comply with a Commission Decision ordering the recovery of €98.36 million illegal and incompatible state aid granted by Sardinia to the mining company Nuova Mineraria Silius SpA. To read the press release, click here.

Aid No: C 53/07 (ex NN 12/07) - French aid granted by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Pau-Béarn to the company Airport Marketing Services. Interested parties should submit their comments by 15 March 2008. To read the notification, click here.

Speeches

Charlie McCreevy speech: "Copyright Levies". To read the speech, click here.

Charlie McCreevy speech: "Internal Market Scoreboard". To read the speech, click here.

Public Procurement

The European Commission has published guidance notes on the founding of Institutionalised Public-Private Partnerships. To read the press release, click here and here.

Miscellaneous

The European Commission has approved Ofcom's proposal to de-regulate the wholesale broadband market in parts of the UK. To read the press release, click here.

 
UK Notifications & Publications
Consultations

The Competition Commission has published its provisional decision on remedies in the Groceries Market Investigation. To read the decision, click here and here.

The Competition Commission has launched a review of its merger guidelines. Interested parties should submit their comments by 31 March 2008. To read the notification, click here and here.

Mergers Invitation to Comment

Barclays Bank plc/the Goldfish business of Discover Financial Services - credit cards and related services. Interested parties should submit their comments by 25 February 2008. To read the notification, click here.

Danisco A/S/Abitec Limited - emulsifiers. Interested parties should submit their comments by 27 February 2008. To read the notification, click here.
FirstGroup plc/Truronian Limited - passenger transport services. Interested parties should submit their comments by 27 February 2008. To read the notification, click here.
General Healthcare Group/nine Nuffield Hospitals - hospitals. Interested parties should submit their comments by 26 February 2008. To read the notification, click here.
Mergers Cleared

Nokia Siemens Networks UK Limited/Apertio Limited - telecommunications. To read the decision, click here.

Mergers Cleared - Full Text Decisions

Dunfermline Press Limited/the Berkshire Regional Newspapers business from Trinity Mirror plc - local newspapers. To read the full text decision, click here.

Stagecoach Group plc/the East Midlands Franchise - rail travel. To read the full text decision, click here.

Miscellaneous

The OFT has agreed a early resolution into its investigation of alleged price fixing between certain supermarkets and dairy processors for the sale of dairy products following Lactalis McLelland's admission of anti-competitive practices and acceptance of a reduced penalty. To read the press release, click here.

Ofcom has published an update in relation to the dispute between H3G and each of O2, Orange and T-Mobile about donor conveyance charges. To read the update, click here.

Ofcom has published an update note in relation to own-initiative enforcement programme to give effect to General Condition 22 (Service Migrations). To read the update, click here.

Ofwat has announced that it has granted Independent Water Networks Limited its second inset appointment enabling the provision of water and sewerage services to a new development in Corby, Northamptonshire. To read the press release, click here.

Ofwat has published its leakage methodology review. To read the review, click here.

ORR has published its responses to the consultation into a more focused approach to licence exemptions. To read the responses, click here.