08/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 8 December, the European Commission cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of the UK internet access business of AOL by Carphone Warehouse group plc (CPW) of the UK. It concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any significant part of it. Under the proposed transaction, CPW would acquire the UK internet business of AOL as a result of the reorganisation of AOL's overall internet access business in the UK. The Commission's examination of the proposed transaction showed that in the sectors where the parties' activities overlapped - internet access services and fixed-line telephony services - the combined entity's share of the relevant market would not give rise to competition concerns as the new firm would continue to face effective competitive pressure from other market participants. (hb)