# Official Journal C 7/2007

| | ISSN 1725-2423 |
| --- | --- |
| Official Journal
  of the European Union | C 7 |
| | |
| English edition | Information and Notices | Volume 5012 January 2007 |

ISSN 1725-2423

Official Journal

of the European Union

C 7

English edition

Information and Notices

Volume 5012 January 2007

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| Notice No | Contents | page |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | II   Information |
| | INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES |
| | Commission |
| 2007/C 007/01 | Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty — Cases where the Commission raises no objections (
  1
  ) | 1 |

Notice No

Contents

page

II   Information

INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES

Commission

2007/C 007/01

Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty — Cases where the Commission raises no objections (
  1
  )

1

1

| | IV   Notices |
| --- | --- |
| | NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES |
| | Commission |
| 2007/C 007/02 | Euro exchange rates | 3 |

IV   Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES

Commission

2007/C 007/02

Euro exchange rates

3

| | V   Announcements |
| --- | --- |
| | PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMON COMMERCIAL AND COMPETITION POLICY |
| | Commission |
| 2007/C 007/03 | Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.4489 — 3i/Countrywide) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (
  1
  ) | 4 |

V   Announcements

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMON COMMERCIAL AND COMPETITION POLICY

Commission

2007/C 007/03

Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.4489 — 3i/Countrywide) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (
  1
  )

1

4

| | |
| --- | --- |
| | (1)   Text with EEA relevance |

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(1)   Text with EEA relevance

1

| EN | |
| --- | --- |

EN

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II Information

INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES

Commission

| 12.1.2007 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 7/1 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

12.1.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 7/1

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Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2007/C 7/01)

| Date of adoption of the decision | 24.8.2005 |
| --- | --- |
| Reference number of the aid | N 287/05 |
| Member State | Germany |
| Title (and/or name of the beneficiary) | Programm „Beihilfe für die Nutzung erneuerbarer Energien“ |
| Legal basis | Richtlinie des BMU zur Förderung von Maßnahmen zur Nutzung erneuerbarer Energien vom 26. November 2003 |
| Type of measure | Aid scheme |
| Objective | Environmental protection |
| Form of aid | Interest subsidy |
| Budget | Annual budget: EUR 193 million; Overall budget: EUR 382 million |
| Intensity | 40 % |
| Duration | 24.8.2005-31.12.2006 |
| Economic sectors | Energy |

Date of adoption of the decision

24.8.2005

Reference number of the aid

N 287/05

Member State

Germany

Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)

Programm „Beihilfe für die Nutzung erneuerbarer Energien“

Legal basis

Richtlinie des BMU zur Förderung von Maßnahmen zur Nutzung erneuerbarer Energien vom 26. November 2003

Type of measure

Aid scheme

Objective

Environmental protection

Form of aid

Interest subsidy

Budget

Annual budget: EUR 193 million; Overall budget: EUR 382 million

Intensity

40 %

Duration

24.8.2005-31.12.2006

Economic sectors

Energy

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

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/

| Date of adoption of the decision | 17.11.2006 |
| --- | --- |
| Reference number of the aid | N 472/06 |
| Member State | Slovenia |
| Title (and/or name of the beneficiary) | PROGRAM ZA SPODBUJANJE TEHNOLOŠKEGA RAZVOJA TER INFORMACIJSKE DRUŽBE ZA OBDOBJE |
| Legal basis | Zakon o raziskovalni in razvojni dejavnosti 2006 |
| Type of measure | Aid scheme |
| Objective | Research and development |
| Form of aid | Direct grant |
| Budget | Overall budget: SIT 86 100 million |
| Intensity | 100 % — 75 % — 50 % |
| Duration | 1.1.2007-31.12.2012 |
| Economic sectors | All sectors |
| Name and address of the granting authority | Ministrstvo za visoko šolstvo, znanost in tehnologijo |

Date of adoption of the decision

17.11.2006

Reference number of the aid

N 472/06

Member State

Slovenia

Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)

PROGRAM ZA SPODBUJANJE TEHNOLOŠKEGA RAZVOJA TER INFORMACIJSKE DRUŽBE ZA OBDOBJE

Legal basis

Zakon o raziskovalni in razvojni dejavnosti 2006

Type of measure

Aid scheme

Objective

Research and development

Form of aid

Direct grant

Budget

Overall budget: SIT 86 100 million

Intensity

100 % — 75 % — 50 %

Duration

1.1.2007-31.12.2012

Economic sectors

All sectors

Name and address of the granting authority

Ministrstvo za visoko šolstvo, znanost in tehnologijo

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

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/

| Date of adoption of the decision | 17.11.2006 |
| --- | --- |
| Reference number of the aid | N 653/06 |
| Member State | Belgium |
| Region | Wallonie |
| Title (and/or name of the beneficiary) | Subventions aux recherches industrielles et aux développements préconcurrentiels réalisés par des entreprises qui participent à un programme de recherche d'un pôle de compétitivité |
| Legal basis | Proposition de décret complétant le décret du 5 juillet 1990 relatif aux aides et aux interventions de la Région wallonne pour la recherche et les technologies |
| Type of measure | Aid scheme |
| Objective | Research and development |
| Form of aid | Direct grant |
| Budget | Overall budget: EUR 50 million |
| Intensity | 45 % |
| Duration | 31.12.2009 |
| Economic sectors | All sectors |
| Name and address of the granting authority | Ministère de la Recherche, des Technologies nouvelles et des Relations extérieures du Gouvernement wallon |
| rue Belliard 9-13 |
| B-1040 Bruxelles |

Date of adoption of the decision

17.11.2006

Reference number of the aid

N 653/06

Member State

Belgium

Region

Wallonie

Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)

Subventions aux recherches industrielles et aux développements préconcurrentiels réalisés par des entreprises qui participent à un programme de recherche d'un pôle de compétitivité

Legal basis

Proposition de décret complétant le décret du 5 juillet 1990 relatif aux aides et aux interventions de la Région wallonne pour la recherche et les technologies

Type of measure

Aid scheme

Objective

Research and development

Form of aid

Direct grant

Budget

Overall budget: EUR 50 million

Intensity

45 %

Duration

31.12.2009

Economic sectors

All sectors

Name and address of the granting authority

Ministère de la Recherche, des Technologies nouvelles et des Relations extérieures du Gouvernement wallon

rue Belliard 9-13

B-1040 Bruxelles

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

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/

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IV Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES

Commission

| 12.1.2007 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 7/3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

12.1.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 7/3

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Euro exchange rates (1)

11 January 2007

(2007/C 7/02)

1 euro=

| | Currency | Exchange rate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| USD | US dollar | 1,2984 |
| JPY | Japanese yen | 156,16 |
| DKK | Danish krone | 7,4541 |
| GBP | Pound sterling | 0,66540 |
| SEK | Swedish krona | 9,1431 |
| CHF | Swiss franc | 1,6129 |
| ISK | Iceland króna | 93,30 |
| NOK | Norwegian krone | 8,3525 |
| BGN | Bulgarian lev | 1,9558 |
| CYP | Cyprus pound | 0,5784 |
| CZK | Czech koruna | 27,774 |
| EEK | Estonian kroon | 15,6466 |
| HUF | Hungarian forint | 255,44 |
| LTL | Lithuanian litas | 3,4528 |
| LVL | Latvian lats | 0,6979 |
| MTL | Maltese lira | 0,4293 |
| PLN | Polish zloty | 3,8787 |
| RON | Romanian leu | 3,4119 |
| SKK | Slovak koruna | 34,548 |
| TRY | Turkish lira | 1,8730 |
| AUD | Australian dollar | 1,6573 |
| CAD | Canadian dollar | 1,5296 |
| HKD | Hong Kong dollar | 10,1248 |
| NZD | New Zealand dollar | 1,8773 |
| SGD | Singapore dollar | 2,0018 |
| KRW | South Korean won | 1 219,13 |
| ZAR | South African rand | 9,4487 |
| CNY | Chinese yuan renminbi | 10,1209 |
| HRK | Croatian kuna | 7,3703 |
| IDR | Indonesian rupiah | 11 842,06 |
| MYR | Malaysian ringgit | 4,5684 |
| PHP | Philippine peso | 63,589 |
| RUB | Russian rouble | 34,4280 |
| THB | Thai baht | 46,639 |

Currency

Exchange rate

USD

US dollar

1,2984

JPY

Japanese yen

156,16

DKK

Danish krone

7,4541

GBP

Pound sterling

0,66540

SEK

Swedish krona

9,1431

CHF

Swiss franc

1,6129

ISK

Iceland króna

93,30

NOK

Norwegian krone

8,3525

BGN

Bulgarian lev

1,9558

CYP

Cyprus pound

0,5784

CZK

Czech koruna

27,774

EEK

Estonian kroon

15,6466

HUF

Hungarian forint

255,44

LTL

Lithuanian litas

3,4528

LVL

Latvian lats

0,6979

MTL

Maltese lira

0,4293

PLN

Polish zloty

3,8787

RON

Romanian leu

3,4119

SKK

Slovak koruna

34,548

TRY

Turkish lira

1,8730

AUD

Australian dollar

1,6573

CAD

Canadian dollar

1,5296

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

10,1248

NZD

New Zealand dollar

1,8773

SGD

Singapore dollar

2,0018

KRW

South Korean won

1 219,13

ZAR

South African rand

9,4487

CNY

Chinese yuan renminbi

10,1209

HRK

Croatian kuna

7,3703

IDR

Indonesian rupiah

11 842,06

MYR

Malaysian ringgit

4,5684

PHP

Philippine peso

63,589

RUB

Russian rouble

34,4280

THB

Thai baht

46,639

---

(1)

Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.

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V Announcements

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMON COMMERCIAL AND COMPETITION POLICY

Commission

| 12.1.2007 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 7/4 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

12.1.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 7/4

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4489 — 3i/Countrywide)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2007/C 7/03)

| 1. | On 4 January 2007, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the 3i Group plc (‘3i’, UK), through the holding company Charlie Holdco 4 Limited, acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Countrywide plc (‘Countrywide’, UK) by way of a public bid. |
| --- | --- |

1.

On 4 January 2007, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the 3i Group plc (‘3i’, UK), through the holding company Charlie Holdco 4 Limited, acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Countrywide plc (‘Countrywide’, UK) by way of a public bid.

| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:






  — | for 3i: a private investment firm; |
| --- | --- | --- |

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

for 3i: a private investment firm;

| — | for Countrywide: the provision of services in the residential property sector. |
| --- | --- |

—

for Countrywide: the provision of services in the residential property sector.

| 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. |
| --- | --- |

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 (fax No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.4489 — 3i/Contrywide to the following address:





  European Commission |
| --- | --- |
| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| J-70 |
| B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel |

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 (fax No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.4489 — 3i/Contrywide to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

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(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

(2)  OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32.

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