Brussels, 02/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has authorised the German producer of beverage cans, Schmalbach-Lubeca AG, to acquire two beverage can factories belonging to the British group Rexam Plc, specialised in the manufacture of packaging for various sectors. The two plants are located in Runcorn, in the United Kingdom, and in La Ciotat, in France. The operation does not cause concern for the Commission as it does not create any competition problems on the beverage can market. The move comes within the framework of a more complex operation consisting of the takeover of American Can by Rexam (see EUROPE of 21 July, 2000, p.12). It had been cleared by the Commission in July 2000 subject to the sale of three plants: those in Runcorn and La Ciotat, which came under the present inquiry, and that in Gelsenkirchen, in Germany. The latter will be sold to a third party and is currently the subject of a parallel investigation.