Despite the German competition office's veto, the German government has given the green light to the take-over of the largest gas company in the country, RUHRGAS (annual turnover EUR 13.3 BN) by the E.ON group, the European energy number two (behind EDF - ELECTRICITE DE FRANCE) and whose annual turnover in 2001 was EUR 79 BN. In practical terms, E.ON will be buying up 40% of RUHRGAS that it doesn't yet own for EUR10 BN from SHELL, EXXONMOBIL and PREUSSAG ENERGIE. According to The Observer,...