Brussels, 27/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission gave its assent to the following operations: (1) the acquisition of Ralston Purina an American producer of pet food by the Swiss company Nestlé, on condition of the respect of certain conditions; (2) the takeover of the Norwegian banking and insurance group Storebrand ASA by the Finnish group Samnpo Oyi; (3) the takeover by the American manufacturer Ford of the wholesale distribution activity for tourism vehicles and certain utility vehicles of the brand Mazda in the United Kingdom. EUROPE will return in more detail to these operations.