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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 8967
Contents Publication in full By article 24 / 46
GENERAL NEWS / (eu) eu/competition

Fortune Brands can acquire Allied Domecq

Brussels, 13/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has cleared the proposed acquisition of various brands and assets of Allied Domecq and of Pernod Ricard SA by Fortune Brands Inc. (“Fortune Brands”). Fortune Brands is a US company active in spirits and wines. Its most famous spirits brand is the US Whisky “Jim Beam”. Fortune Brands will acquire several brands and assets from the United Kingdom-based spirits and wines company Allied Domecq, including among others the Scotch whiskies “Teachers” and “Laphroaig”, the tequila “Sauza” and the brandy “Courvoisier. The Commission observed that the concentration will only result in minor overlaps in the whisky markets in few Member States. The new entity will continue to face several strong, effective competitors with significant market shares, such as Diageo. The Commission has therefore decided to approve the transaction but points out that is conditional on the completion of the acquisition by Pernod Ricard of Allied Domecq and is still subject to the Commission's scrutiny under the Merger Regulation.

Contents

A LOOK BEHIND THE NEWS
A Look Behind The News, by Ferdinando Riccardi: Union's financial perspectives: hopes and problems
THE DAY IN POLITICS
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(EU) EU/CROATIA: Council allows another “three to four months” for assessing whether accession talks may be opened
(EU) EU/TURKEY: Council opens road for Turkey to sign additional protocol to Association Agreement
(EU) EU/CUBA: EU maintains suspension of diplomatic sanctions despite absence of progress on democracy and human rights
(EU) EU/ZIMBABWE:
(EU) EU/IRAQ: Priority on political agenda over resources, affirms Iraqi ambassador before international conference on 22 June Brussels
(EU) EU/EUROPEAN COUNCIL/EPP: Summit in Meise on 16 June
(EU) EU/EUROPEAN COUNCIL/ELDR: Summit in Brussels on 16 June
(EU) EP/CONSTITUTION: Lamassoure suggests interparliamentary conference and simultaneous referendum throughout Europe
(EU) EU/IRAQ/PRESS:
(EU) EU/NEPAL:
(EU) EP/UN REFORM: Broad support for Kofi Annan's proposals - For a single and, ultimately, permanent seat, despite differences of opinion during debate
(EU) EP/AZERBAIJAN: Parliament condemns violence in Baku and calls for regular and transparent elections
(EU) EP/CYPRUS:
(EU) EP/EPP/ED:
(EU) EU/CONSTITUTION/FOUNDATIONS:
GENERAL NEWS
(EU) EU/FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVES: Grand rehearsal of differences between Member States before European Council meets
(EU) EU/CHINA/TRADE/TEXTILES: Brussels and Beijing reach agreement to restrict growth in Chinese textile exports
(EU) EU/DEVELOPMENT: G7 finance ministers' agreement for getting rid of debt in 18 poor countries looks promising for G8 - breakthrough for pilot Franco-German project on plan ticket taxes
(EU) EU/CHINA/ENVIRONMENT: Meeting with Commissioner Stavros Dimas and Chinese environment minister Xie Zhenhua
(EU) EU/COMPETITION:
(EU) EU/COMPETITION: Commission opens sector inquiry into energy and financial services
(EU) EU/COMPETITION: Fortune Brands can acquire Allied Domecq
(EU) EP/SERVICES: EPP-ED group proposes “internal market clause”
(EU) EU/BANKING/COMPETITION: Planned merger between Unicredito and HVB raises no objections at this stage
(EU) EU/ENTREPRISE: Maive Rute, Commission's new "envoy for SMEs", stresses need to boost dialogue with SMEs and create European network of SMEs
(EU) EP/HEALTH: Parliament wants patient mobility and changes in healthcare within the Union to be taken increasingly into account
(EU) EP/SOCIAL: New Member States and inclusion
(EU) EP/EMPLOYMENT: Member States invited to re-examine period acceptable for transition in new Member States
(EU) EP/IMMIGRATION: EP rejects creation of reception centres outside EU for immigrants to Union territory
(EU) EP/FISHERIES:
(EU) EU/EUROPEAN COUNCIL/REGIONS: In letter to Jean-Claude Juncker, Claudio Martini calls on summit to preserve cross-border cooperation
(EU) EU/HUMANITARIAN AID: 4.5 million in humanitarian aid for vulnerable in North Korea and Myanmar
(EU) EU/CONSUMERS: Cyprus joins European consumer centres
(EU) EU/TRANSPORT/SECURITY:
(EU) EU/TRANSPORT:
(EU) EU/ECONOMY:
(EU) EU/AUDIOVISUAL: Reding says “high definition” television will widely contribute to development of digital in Europe
(EU) EU/EDUCATION: 3 countries join European University Institute
(EU) EU/CULTURE/ASIA: Asem and Europe promise to reinforce cultural dialogue to fight intolerance
(EU) EU/COURT OF JUSTICE: Commission brings case against Germany in "Parmigiano Reggiano", which is set to be prominent
(EU) EU/COURT OF JUSTICE: Laurent Piau maintains that FIFA's governance of footballing agents' activities is incompatible with European law
(EU) EU/COURT OF JUSTICE: Spain ruled against for failing to protext wood pigeons in Province of Guipúzcoa.
WEEKLY SUPPLEMENT
European Library: No. 645
€ VALUE IN DIFFERENT CURRENCIES ON 13/06/2005: