Brussels, 18/09/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has granted regulatory approval to CE Electric's proposed acquisition of UK electricity distribution company Yorkshire Power Group. CE Electric is the holding company for Northern Electricity plc which distributes electricity in North-East England and supplies electricity across the UK. CE is also active in the exploration and development of natural gas in the southern basin of the North Sea. Yorkshire Power group distributes electricity in the Yorkshire region and also supplies electricity across the UK. The Commission found that there would be little or no overlap between the two companies' regional distribution activities. The acquisition is part of a wider transaction between CE Electric and Innogy plc (Yorkshire Power Group's parent company), which also involves the acquisition by Innogy of CE Electric's electricity supply business. This separate deal does not meet the turnover thresholds set in the European Union's Merger Regulation and therefore does not have to be reviewed by the Commission.