Brussels, 07/06/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has cleared the proposed acquisition of NBS Nordic Broadband Services AB (“UPC Sweden”) by private investment firms Carlyle Europe Partners and Providence Equity Offshore Partners since the operation would not result in a significant impediment to effective competition. NBS provides internet, television and, in the near future, also telephony services to subscribers in Sweden under the UPC brand. Providence and Carlyle have recently acquired Com Hem, a Swedish provider of TV, internet and telephony services, via their jointly controlled SPV Nordic Cable Acquisition Company AB. The Commission investigated the combined effect of these two operations on the Swedish cable television market, and concluded that the proposed transaction would not ultimately result in any impediment to competition on the wholesale level or on the retail market.