Brussels, 27/09/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has cleared the acquisition of the Dutch companies Kruidvat Holding BV and Kruidvat Superdrug BV by AS Watson, a Hong Kong based company, which belongs to Hutchison Whampoa. AS Watson operates health and beauty stores, Kruidvat is active in the same field in the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom and Eastern Europe (Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic). The Commission was concerned about the overlapping of activities on the UK market (As Watson owns "Savers" shops and Kruidvat owns "Superdrug") but Boots will remain the market leader in the United Kingdom and the merged entity following in second place, together with The Body Shop and Lloyds Pharmacy.