01/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 1 October, the European Commission authorised the UK private investment fund Lion Capital LLP to take exclusive control of the Group Picard, which manages a retail distribution network for frozen foods (Picard shops, in France). For its part, Lion Capital controls, amongst others, the brand Findus, a UK-based company which produces a wide range of frozen foods (fish, ready meals, etc). Although the operation, which was notified on 27 August, does not bring about any horizontal overlaps, as Picard and Findus are active at different levels of the supply chain, a vertical link may exist between the two companies, as Findus is a potential supplier to Picard. Even so, the Commission concluded that the two parties would be unable to close off the production and retail distribution markets to competitors and takes the view that the operation will not cause any competition problems. (F.G./transl.fl)