Brussels, 17/07/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has cleared the proposed acquisition of the French cable television, Internet and telephone service provider UPC France SA ("UPC France") by Cinven Limited (“Cinven"), a UK investment fund. Cinven is a risk-capital investment group which provides investment management advice and services. UPC France operates the cable networks of 650 municipalities or groups of municipalities in France. In 2005, Cinven acquired control of two of the three cable network operators in France that provide television and Internet services, France Télécom Câble and NC Numéricâble. The third operator, UPC France, has, since acquiring the cable operator Noos in 2004, controlled the main remaining cable network in France. As a result of this transaction, which brings together the two major cable networks UPC-Noos and Numéricable, the new entity will cover virtually all French cable subscribers. It will be in direct competition with the satellite operators (TPS and CanalSatellite), which also provide ADSL services and Télévision Numérique Terrestre (DTT); their position could be strengthened by the proposed merger currently being examined by the French authorities. To a lesser extent, the new entity will also be in competition with the ADSL operators' own services. The Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA).