Brussels, 01/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission authorised the acquisition of Scandic Hotels AB, the main hotel owner in Scandinavia (133 hotels in this part of Europe) by Hilton Group plc (United Kingdom) through a takeover launched last 23 April and which values Scandic at SEK 8.9 billion. The hotel activities of the two partners are to a great extent complementary, as Hilton traditionally concentrates its activities in the United Kingdom and in the large cities of continental Europe and Scandic is present nearly exclusively in the Nordic countries, in which Hilton only has a single hotel (in Denmark). Given these elements, the Commission decided to authorise the operation. Which does not create nor enhance any dominant position.