ISSN 1725-2423

Official Journal

of the European Union

C 65
European flag  

English edition

Information and Notices

Volume 48
17 March 2005

Notice No

Contents

page

 

I   Information

 

Commission

2005/C 065/1

Euro exchange rates

1

2005/C 065/2

Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.3543- PKN Orlen/Unipetrol) ( 1 )

2

2005/C 065/3

Holidays in 2005

3

2005/C 065/4

Initiation of proceedings (Case COMP/M.3625 — Blackstone/Acetex) ( 1 )

4

2005/C 065/5

Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.3760 — AXA Private Equity/Larivière) — Candidate case for simplified procedure ( 1 )

5

2005/C 065/6

Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.3757 — 3i/Providence/Crown Entertainment) — Candidate case for simplified procedure ( 1 )

6

 

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA

 

EFTA Surveillance Authority

2005/C 065/7

Authorisation of State aid pursuant to Article 61 of the EEA Agreement and Article 1(3) in Part I of Protocol 3 to the Surveillance and Court Agreement — EFTA Surveillance Authority decision not to raise objections

7

 

 

(1)   Text with EEA relevance

EN

 

I Information

Commission

17.3.2005   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 65/1

Euro exchange rates (1)

16 March 2005

(2005/C 65/01)

1 euro=

 

Currency

Exchange rate

USD

US dollar

1,3373

JPY

Japanese yen

139,33

DKK

Danish krone

7,4472

GBP

Pound sterling

0,69600

SEK

Swedish krona

9,0900

CHF

Swiss franc

1,5462

ISK

Iceland króna

78,71

NOK

Norwegian krone

8,2010

BGN

Bulgarian lev

1,9559

CYP

Cyprus pound

0,5828

CZK

Czech koruna

29,850

EEK

Estonian kroon

15,6466

HUF

Hungarian forint

246,08

LTL

Lithuanian litas

3,4528

LVL

Latvian lats

0,6961

MTL

Maltese lira

0,4325

PLN

Polish zloty

4,0691

ROL

Romanian leu

36 153

SIT

Slovenian tolar

239,70

SKK

Slovak koruna

38,461

TRY

Turkish lira

1,7783

AUD

Australian dollar

1,6906

CAD

Canadian dollar

1,6094

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

10,4305

NZD

New Zealand dollar

1,8065

SGD

Singapore dollar

2,1683

KRW

South Korean won

1 342,38

ZAR

South African rand

8,1594

(1)  

Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.

17.3.2005   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 65/2

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3543- PKN Orlen/Unipetrol)

(2005/C 65/02)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1.

On 11 March 2005, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Polski Koncern Naftowy Orlen Spółka Akcyjna (‘PKN Orlen’, Poland) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Unipetrol, a.s. (‘Unipetrol’, Czech Republic) by way of purchase of shares.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

for PKN Orlen: crude oil processing and manufacture and sale of petroleum and petrochemical products,

—

for Unipetrol: crude oil processing and manufacture and sale of petroleum and petrochemical products.

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

4.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.3543 — PKN Orlen/Unipetrol, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition,

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Brussels

(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

17.3.2005   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 65/3

HOLIDAYS IN 2005

(2005/C 65/03)

BELGIQUE/BELGIË:

1.1, 28.3, 1.5, 5.5, 6.5, 16.5, 21.7, 22.7, 15.8, 31.10, 1.11, 2.11, 11.11, 15.11, 25.12, 26.12, 27.12, 28.12, 29.12, 30.12, 31.12

ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA:

1.1, 28.3, 1.5, 8.5, 5.7, 6.7, 28.9, 28.10, 17.11, 24.12, 25.12, 26.12

DANMARK:

1.1, 24.3, 25.3, 28.3, 22.4, 5.5, 16.5, 5.6, 24.12, 26.12, 31.12

DEUTSCHLAND:

1.1, 25.3, 27.3, 28.3, 1.5, 5.5, 15.5, 16.5, 3.10, 25.12, 26.12

EESTI:

1.1, 24.2, 25.3, 27.3, 1.5, 15.5, 23.6, 24.6, 20.8, 25.12, 26.12

ELLÁDA/ΕΛΛΑΔΑ:

1.1, 2.1, 25.3, 29.4, 2.5, 20.6, 15.8, 28.10, 25.12, 26.12

ESPAÑA:

24.3, 25.3, 28.3, 5.5, 9.5, 16.5, 15.8, 1.11, 26.12, 27.12, 28.12, 29.12, 30.12

FRANCE:

1.1, 28.3, 1.5, 5.5, 8.5, 14.7, 15.8, 1.11, 25.12

IRELAND:

 

ITALIA:

1.1, 6.1, 28.3, 25.4, 1.5, 2.6, 15.8, 1.11, 8.12, 25.12, 26.12

KYPROS/ΚΥΠΡΟΣ:

25.3, 29.4, 2.5, 1.10, 26.12, 27.12, 28.12, 29.12, 30.12, 31.12

LATVIJA:

1.1, 25.3, 28.3, 1.5, 4.5, 8.5, 23.6, 24.6, 18.11, 25.12, 26.12, 31.12

LIETUVA:

 

LUXEMBOURG:

1.1, 28.3, 1.5, 5.5, 16.5, 23.6, 15.8, 1.11, 25.12, 26.12

MAGYARORSZÁG:

1.1, 15.3, 28.3, 1.5, 16.5, 20.8, 23.10, 1.11, 25.12, 26.12

MALTA:

1.1, 10.2, 19.3, 25.3, 31.3, 1.5, 7.6, 29.6, 15.8, 8.9, 21.9, 8.12, 13.12, 25.12

NEDERLAND:

6.1, 6.2, 7.2, 8.2, 9.2, 28.3, 5.5, 16.5, 15.8, 1.11, 25.12, 26.12

ÖSTERREICH:

1.1, 6.1, 27.3, 28.3, 1.5, 15.5, 16.5, 26.5, 15.8, 26.10, 1.12, 8.12, 25.12, 26.12

POLSKA:

 

PORTUGAL:

1.1, 25.3, 25.4, 1.5, 26.5, 10.6, 15.8, 5.10, 1.11, 1.12, 8.12, 25.12

SLOVENIJA:

1.1, 2.1, 8.2, 28.3, 27.4, 1.5, 2.5, 25.6, 15.8, 31.10, 1.11, 25.12, 26.12

SLOVENSKO:

1.1, 6.1, 25.3, 28.3, 1.5, 8.5, 5.7, 29.8, 1.9, 15.9, 1.11, 17.11, 24.12, 25.12, 26.12

SUOMI/FINLAND:

6.1, 25.3, 28.3, 5.5, 24.6, 6.12, 26.12

SVERIGE:

 

UNITED KINGDOM:

3.1, 24.3, 25.3, 28.3, 5.5, 6.5, 16.5, 15.8, 31.10, 1.11, 26.12, 27.12, 28.12

17.3.2005   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 65/4

Initiation of proceedings

(Case COMP/M.3625 — Blackstone/Acetex)

(2005/C 65/04)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 10 March 2005, the Commission decided to initiate proceedings in the above-mentioned case after finding that the notified concentration raises serious doubts as to its compatibility with the common market. The initiation of proceedings opens a second phase investigation with regard to the notified concentration. The decision is based on Article 6(1)(c) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their observations on the proposed concentration to the Commission.

In order to be fully taken into account in the procedure, observations should reach the Commission not later than 15 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference No COMP/M.3625 — Blackstone/Acetex, to the following address:

Commission of the European Communities

Competition DG

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Brussels

17.3.2005   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 65/5

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3760 — AXA Private Equity/Larivière)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2005/C 65/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1.

On 9 March 2005, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking AXA Investment Managers Private Equity Europe SA (‘AXA Private Equity’, France) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Larivière S.A.(France) by way of purchase of shares.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

for undertaking AXA Private Equity: private equity funds,

—

for undertaking Larivière: trading of building material (roof material).

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

4.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.3760 — AXA Private Equity/Larivière, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition,

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Brussels

(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

(2)  Available on DG COMP website:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/competition/mergers/legislation/consultation/simplified_tru.pdf.

17.3.2005   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 65/6

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3757 — 3i/Providence/Crown Entertainment)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2005/C 65/06)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1.

On 9 March 2005 the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertakings 3i Group (‘3i’, UK) and Providence Equity Offshore Partners IV (‘Providence’, USA) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertakings Crown Entertainment (UK) and Crown Media International (USA) by way of purchase of shares.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

for 3i: international private equity house,

—

for Providence: global private investment firm specializing in media and communications companies,

—

for Crown Entertainment and Crown Media International: compile and distribute the Hallmark branded pay-TV channels.

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

4.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.3757 — 3i/Providence/Crown Entertainment, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition,

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

(2)  Available on DG COMP website:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/competition/mergers/legislation/consultation/simplified_tru.pdf.

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA

EFTA Surveillance Authority

17.3.2005   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 65/7

Authorisation of State aid pursuant to Article 61 of the EEA Agreement and Article 1(3) in Part I of Protocol 3 to the Surveillance and Court Agreement

EFTA Surveillance Authority decision not to raise objections

(2005/C 65/07)

Date of adoption:

EFTA State: Norway

Aid No: Case 56 430

Title: Prolongation of the temporary regional loan scheme (Published in the Official Journal C 308, 18.12.2003, p. 33).

Objective: The temporary regional loan scheme has the primary objective of triggering economic development in less favoured and outlying regions in Norway by supporting investment and job creation in an economically sustainable context. The scheme has R&D and employment as secondary objectives.

Legal basis: Parliament decision No 124 of 9 December 2003 (in case No 2, published in the Parliament journal (Stortingstidende) pp. 1046-1053, 1071-1073), proposed by The Standing Committee on Business and Industry 3 December 2003 (Proposed decision IV of Innst.S.nr.71 (2003-2004))

Budget/Duration: NOK 500 million for loans and NOK 75 million for interest subsidies. The scheme will run until 31 December 2005.

Other information: The authentic text of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at:

http://www.eftasurv.int/fieldsofwork/fieldstateaid/stateaidregister