Brussels, 01/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has authorised UK brewer Scottish & Newcastle to take over the UK's leading cider producer, HP Bulmer Holdings. Scottish & Newcastle is principally active in the United Kingdom, but also has activities in other European countries. Bulmer's main activity is cider production, which it exports to European and non-European countries. It is also present in the British beer retailing sector, via its subsidiary, The Beer Seller. The Commission examined the impact of the operation on the supply and wholesaling of beer and cider in the on-trade (restaurants, pubs and clubs) and the off-trade (shops and retailers) sectors, in the different national markets. It noted that the UK alone will be affected by the overlap between Scottish & Newcastle and The Beer Seller, but that their market shares were not sufficient to cause competition distortion.