# Official Journal C 234/2020

| | ISSN 1977-091X |
| --- | --- |
| Official Journal
  of the European Union | C 234 |
| | |
| English edition | Information and Notices | Volume 6316 July 2020 |

ISSN 1977-091X

Official Journal

of the European Union

C 234

English edition

Information and Notices

Volume 6316 July 2020

---

| Contents | page |
| --- | --- |
| | IV   Notices |
| | NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES |
| | European Commission |
| 2020/C 234/01 | Euro exchange rates — 15 July 2020 | 1 |
| | NOTICES CONCERNING THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA |
| | EFTA Surveillance Authority |
| 2020/C 234/02 | EFTA Surveillance Authority’s notice on State aid recovery interest rates and reference/discount rates for the EFTA States applicable as from 1 April 2020
  (Published in accordance with the rules on reference and discount rates set out in Part VII of ESA’s State Aid Guidelines and Article 10 of ESA’s Decision No 195/04/COL of 14 July 2004) | 2 |

Contents

page

IV   Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

2020/C 234/01

Euro exchange rates — 15 July 2020

1

NOTICES CONCERNING THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA

EFTA Surveillance Authority

2020/C 234/02

EFTA Surveillance Authority’s notice on State aid recovery interest rates and reference/discount rates for the EFTA States applicable as from 1 April 2020
  (Published in accordance with the rules on reference and discount rates set out in Part VII of ESA’s State Aid Guidelines and Article 10 of ESA’s Decision No 195/04/COL of 14 July 2004)

(Published in accordance with the rules on reference and discount rates set out in Part VII of ESA’s State Aid Guidelines and Article 10 of ESA’s Decision No 195/04/COL of 14 July 2004

2

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| | V   Announcements |
| --- | --- |
| | COURT PROCEEDINGS |
| | EFTA Court |
| 2020/C 234/03 | Request for an Advisory Opinion from the EFTA Court by Borgarting Lagmannsrett dated 3 April 2020 in the case of The Norwegian Government v L (Case E-2/20) | 3 |
| | PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY |
| | European Commission |
| 2020/C 234/04 | Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9866 – United Group/Forthnet) (
  1
  ) | 4 |
| 2020/C 234/05 | Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9299 – Discovery/Polsat/JV) (
  1
  ) | 6 |
| 2020/C 234/06 | Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9771 – Hitachi/Honda/HIAMS/Keihin/Showa/Nissin Kogyo) (
  1
  ) | 8 |

V   Announcements

COURT PROCEEDINGS

EFTA Court

2020/C 234/03

Request for an Advisory Opinion from the EFTA Court by Borgarting Lagmannsrett dated 3 April 2020 in the case of The Norwegian Government v L (Case E-2/20)

3

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY

European Commission

2020/C 234/04

Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9866 – United Group/Forthnet) (
  1
  )

1

4

2020/C 234/05

Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9299 – Discovery/Polsat/JV) (
  1
  )

1

6

2020/C 234/06

Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9771 – Hitachi/Honda/HIAMS/Keihin/Showa/Nissin Kogyo) (
  1
  )

1

8

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

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(1)   Text with EEA relevance.

1

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

EN

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IV Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

| 16.7.2020 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 234/1 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

16.7.2020

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 234/1

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Euro exchange rates (1)

15 July 2020

(2020/C 234/01)

1 euro =

| | Currency | Exchange rate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| USD | US dollar | 1,1444 |
| JPY | Japanese yen | 122,25 |
| DKK | Danish krone | 7,4465 |
| GBP | Pound sterling | 0,90540 |
| SEK | Swedish krona | 10,3468 |
| CHF | Swiss franc | 1,0783 |
| ISK | Iceland króna | 160,70 |
| NOK | Norwegian krone | 10,6275 |
| BGN | Bulgarian lev | 1,9558 |
| CZK | Czech koruna | 26,587 |
| HUF | Hungarian forint | 353,25 |
| PLN | Polish zloty | 4,4688 |
| RON | Romanian leu | 4,8439 |
| TRY | Turkish lira | 7,8568 |
| AUD | Australian dollar | 1,6293 |
| CAD | Canadian dollar | 1,5527 |
| HKD | Hong Kong dollar | 8,8718 |
| NZD | New Zealand dollar | 1,7397 |
| SGD | Singapore dollar | 1,5884 |
| KRW | South Korean won | 1 373,55 |
| ZAR | South African rand | 18,9061 |
| CNY | Chinese yuan renminbi | 7,9975 |
| HRK | Croatian kuna | 7,5308 |
| IDR | Indonesian rupiah | 16 693,94 |
| MYR | Malaysian ringgit | 4,8780 |
| PHP | Philippine peso | 56,584 |
| RUB | Russian rouble | 81,0468 |
| THB | Thai baht | 36,037 |
| BRL | Brazilian real | 6,0911 |
| MXN | Mexican peso | 25,4759 |
| INR | Indian rupee | 85,9710 |

Currency

Exchange rate

USD

US dollar

1,1444

JPY

Japanese yen

122,25

DKK

Danish krone

7,4465

GBP

Pound sterling

0,90540

SEK

Swedish krona

10,3468

CHF

Swiss franc

1,0783

ISK

Iceland króna

160,70

NOK

Norwegian krone

10,6275

BGN

Bulgarian lev

1,9558

CZK

Czech koruna

26,587

HUF

Hungarian forint

353,25

PLN

Polish zloty

4,4688

RON

Romanian leu

4,8439

TRY

Turkish lira

7,8568

AUD

Australian dollar

1,6293

CAD

Canadian dollar

1,5527

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

8,8718

NZD

New Zealand dollar

1,7397

SGD

Singapore dollar

1,5884

KRW

South Korean won

1 373,55

ZAR

South African rand

18,9061

CNY

Chinese yuan renminbi

7,9975

HRK

Croatian kuna

7,5308

IDR

Indonesian rupiah

16 693,94

MYR

Malaysian ringgit

4,8780

PHP

Philippine peso

56,584

RUB

Russian rouble

81,0468

THB

Thai baht

36,037

BRL

Brazilian real

6,0911

MXN

Mexican peso

25,4759

INR

Indian rupee

85,9710

---

(1)  Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.

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NOTICES CONCERNING THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA

EFTA Surveillance Authority

| 16.7.2020 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 234/2 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

16.7.2020

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 234/2

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EFTA Surveillance Authority’s notice on State aid recovery interest rates and reference/discount rates for the EFTA States applicable as from 1 April 2020

(Published in accordance with the rules on reference and discount rates set out in Part VII of ESA’s State Aid Guidelines and Article 10 of ESA’s Decision No 195/04/COL of 14 July 2004 (1))

(2020/C 234/02)

Base rates are calculated in accordance with the Chapter on the method for setting reference and discount rates of ESA’s State Aid Guidelines as amended by ESA’s Decision No 788/08/COL of 17 December 2008. To obtain the applicable reference rates, appropriate margins shall be added to the base rate in accordance with the State Aid Guidelines.

The base rates for Iceland and Norway as from 1 April, have been updated in light of exceptional circumstances, the COVID-19 pandemic.

Base rates have been determined as follows:

| | Iceland | Liechtenstein | Norway |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1.4.2020– | 2,88 | –0,56 | 1,28 |

Iceland

Liechtenstein

Norway

1.4.2020–

2,88

–0,56

1,28

---

(1)  OJ L 139, 25.5.2006, p. 37 and EEA Supplement to the OJ 26/2006, 25.5.2006, p. 1.

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V Announcements

COURT PROCEEDINGS

EFTA Court

| 16.7.2020 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 234/3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

16.7.2020

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 234/3

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Request for an Advisory Opinion from the EFTA Court by Borgarting Lagmannsrett dated 3 April 2020 in the case of The Norwegian Government v L

(Case E-2/20)

(2020/C 234/03)

A request has been made to the EFTA Court dated 3 April 2020 from Borgarting Lagmannsrett (Borgarting Court of Appeal), which was received at the Court Registry on 3 April 2020, for an Advisory Opinion in the case of The Norwegian Government v L on the following questions:

| 1. | Is recital 27 of the preamble to Directive 2004/38/EC to be interpreted as meaning that expulsion of an EU/EEA national together with a permanent exclusion order is contrary to Directive 2004/38/EC, even if the person in question has the possibility under Article 32(1) of applying to have the exclusion order lifted? |
| --- | --- |

1.

Is recital 27 of the preamble to Directive 2004/38/EC to be interpreted as meaning that expulsion of an EU/EEA national together with a permanent exclusion order is contrary to Directive 2004/38/EC, even if the person in question has the possibility under Article 32(1) of applying to have the exclusion order lifted?

| 2. | How are the words ‘material change’ in Article 32(1) to be understood when the expulsion is based on personal characteristics of the EU/EEA national? |
| --- | --- |

2.

How are the words ‘material change’ in Article 32(1) to be understood when the expulsion is based on personal characteristics of the EU/EEA national?

| 3. | If it is assumed that the personal characteristics of the EU/EEA national justifying the expulsion will not change, will expulsion together with a permanent entry prohibition in such cases be contrary to Directive 2004/38/EC? |
| --- | --- |

3.

If it is assumed that the personal characteristics of the EU/EEA national justifying the expulsion will not change, will expulsion together with a permanent entry prohibition in such cases be contrary to Directive 2004/38/EC?

| 4. | How is the requirement in Article 27(2), under which expulsion must be a proportionate measure, to be understood in relation to the expulsion of an EU/EEA national together with a permanent entry prohibition when the person in question has a family and children in the country from which s/he is being expelled? Does the Directive preclude expulsion together with a permanent entry prohibition in such cases? |
| --- | --- |

4.

How is the requirement in Article 27(2), under which expulsion must be a proportionate measure, to be understood in relation to the expulsion of an EU/EEA national together with a permanent entry prohibition when the person in question has a family and children in the country from which s/he is being expelled? Does the Directive preclude expulsion together with a permanent entry prohibition in such cases?

| 5. | How much weight should be attached to the absence of criminal offences whilst serving a sentence and positive development following release on probation in the determination of whether there is ‘a genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat’ as referred to in Article 27(2)? |
| --- | --- |

5.

How much weight should be attached to the absence of criminal offences whilst serving a sentence and positive development following release on probation in the determination of whether there is ‘a genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat’ as referred to in Article 27(2)?

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PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY

European Commission

| 16.7.2020 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 234/4 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

16.7.2020

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 234/4

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.9866 – United Group/Forthnet)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2020/C 234/04)

1.

This notification concerns the following undertakings:

| — | NEWCO United Group Hellas S.A.R.L. (‘NewCo’, Luxembourg), a wholly owned subsidiary of United Group BV (‘United Group’, Netherlands), which is ultimately solely controlled by BC Partners LLP (‘BC Partners’, United Kingdom), |
| --- | --- |

—

NEWCO United Group Hellas S.A.R.L. (‘NewCo’, Luxembourg), a wholly owned subsidiary of United Group BV (‘United Group’, Netherlands), which is ultimately solely controlled by BC Partners LLP (‘BC Partners’, United Kingdom),

| — | Hellenic Telecommunications and Telematic Applications S.A. (‘Forthnet’, Greece). |
| --- | --- |

—

Hellenic Telecommunications and Telematic Applications S.A. (‘Forthnet’, Greece).

United Group, through NewCo, acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of Forthnet.

The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.

2.

| — | for United Group: provider of telecoms and media services in South East Europe, where it operates a multi-play cable and media platform, |
| --- | --- |

—

for United Group: provider of telecoms and media services in South East Europe, where it operates a multi-play cable and media platform,

| — | for Forthnet: telecommunications operator, active in Greece and Cyprus, under the brand ‘NOVA’. It provides fixed telephony, fixed broadband and pay-TV services (both via satellite and internet (through so called ‘over-the-top’ services) to residential, business and institutional customers. |
| --- | --- |

—

for Forthnet: telecommunications operator, active in Greece and Cyprus, under the brand ‘NOVA’. It provides fixed telephony, fixed broadband and pay-TV services (both via satellite and internet (through so called ‘over-the-top’ services) to residential, business and institutional customers.

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

4.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. The following reference should always be specified:

M.9866 – United Group/Forthnet

Observations can be sent to the Commission by email, by fax, or by post. Please use the contact details below:

Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu

Fax +32 22964301

Postal address:

| European Commission |
| --- |
| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel |
| BELGIQUE/BELGIË |

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

---

(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘Merger Regulation’).

1

---

| 16.7.2020 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 234/6 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

16.7.2020

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 234/6

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.9299 – Discovery/Polsat/JV)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2020/C 234/05)

1.

This notification concerns the following undertakings:

| — | Discovery Communications Europe Limited (‘Discovery’, UK), belonging to Discovery, Inc. (‘Discovery Group’, US), |
| --- | --- |

—

Discovery Communications Europe Limited (‘Discovery’, UK), belonging to Discovery, Inc. (‘Discovery Group’, US),

| — | Cyfrowy Polsat S.A. (‘Polsat’, Poland), controlled by Zygmunt Solorz. |
| --- | --- |

—

Cyfrowy Polsat S.A. (‘Polsat’, Poland), controlled by Zygmunt Solorz.

Discovery and Polsat acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of a newly created company constituting a joint venture (‘JV’, Poland).

The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture.

2.

| — | Discovery: is a media company belonging to the global Discovery Group, which produces TV channels and provides TV content across multiple distribution platforms, including linear platforms such as pay and FTA television, and various digital distribution platforms around the world. Discovery is active in Poland through its controlling interest in the Polish media and entertainment group, TVN, which broadcasts a range of TV channels in Poland as well as the distribution of Discovery and Eurosport branded channels, |
| --- | --- |

—

Discovery: is a media company belonging to the global Discovery Group, which produces TV channels and provides TV content across multiple distribution platforms, including linear platforms such as pay and FTA television, and various digital distribution platforms around the world. Discovery is active in Poland through its controlling interest in the Polish media and entertainment group, TVN, which broadcasts a range of TV channels in Poland as well as the distribution of Discovery and Eurosport branded channels,

| — | Polsat: is the operator of a satellite digital pay-TV platform and broadcaster of TV channels. Polsat also offers Video on Demand services and other services such as the Ipla platform. |
| --- | --- |

—

Polsat: is the operator of a satellite digital pay-TV platform and broadcaster of TV channels. Polsat also offers Video on Demand services and other services such as the Ipla platform.

The JV will operate an Over-The-Top Video on Demand service in Poland and other Member States. The new service will include local productions supplied by Discovery and Polsat, acquired TV content and new Polish series commissioned specifically by the new entity. The JV platform may also distribute the TV channels of the parents and other third parties.

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

4.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. The following reference should always be specified:

M.9299 – Discovery/Polsat/JV

Observations can be sent to the Commission by email, by fax, or by post. Please use the contact details below:

Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu

Fax +32 22964301

Postal address:

| European Commission |
| --- |
| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel |
| BELGIQUE/BELGIË |

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

---

(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘Merger Regulation’).

1

---

| 16.7.2020 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 234/8 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

16.7.2020

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 234/8

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.9771 – Hitachi/Honda/HIAMS/Keihin/Showa/Nissin Kogyo)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2020/C 234/06)

1.

This notification concerns the following undertakings:

| — | Hitachi, Ltd. (‘HTL’, Japan), |
| --- | --- |

—

Hitachi, Ltd. (‘HTL’, Japan),

| — | Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (‘Honda’, Japan), |
| --- | --- |

—

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (‘Honda’, Japan),

| — | Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd (‘HIAMS’, Japan) a wholly owned subsidiary of HTL, |
| --- | --- |

—

Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd (‘HIAMS’, Japan) a wholly owned subsidiary of HTL,

| — | Keihin Corporation (‘Keihin’, Japan), |
| --- | --- |

—

Keihin Corporation (‘Keihin’, Japan),

| — | Showa Corporation (‘Showa’, Japan), |
| --- | --- |

—

Showa Corporation (‘Showa’, Japan),

| — | Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd (‘Nissin Kogyo’, Japan). |
| --- | --- |

—

Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd (‘Nissin Kogyo’, Japan).

HTL and Honda acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and Article 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the whole of HIAMS, Keihin, Showa and Nissin Kogyo.

The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.

2.

| — | for HTL: HTL is a multinational conglomerate company and is the ultimate parent company of the Hitachi group of companies. HTL is a highly diversified company, mainly active in the manufacture and sale of products and services in the IT, energy, industry, mobility and smart life sectors, |
| --- | --- |

—

for HTL: HTL is a multinational conglomerate company and is the ultimate parent company of the Hitachi group of companies. HTL is a highly diversified company, mainly active in the manufacture and sale of products and services in the IT, energy, industry, mobility and smart life sectors,

| — | for Honda: Honda is the parent company of the Honda group of companies, and is active in the production and distribution of automobiles, motorcycles and power products, |
| --- | --- |

—

for Honda: Honda is the parent company of the Honda group of companies, and is active in the production and distribution of automobiles, motorcycles and power products,

| — | for HIAMS: HIAMS is active in the production and supply of automotive products and technologies, |
| --- | --- |

—

for HIAMS: HIAMS is active in the production and supply of automotive products and technologies,

| — | for Keihin: Keihin is active in the manufacture and supply of electrification systems for hybrid and electric vehicles, engine management systems for gasoline and natural gas vehicles, and products for fuel cells, |
| --- | --- |

—

for Keihin: Keihin is active in the manufacture and supply of electrification systems for hybrid and electric vehicles, engine management systems for gasoline and natural gas vehicles, and products for fuel cells,

| — | for Showa: Showa is active in the manufacture and supply of components for automobiles, motorcycles and outboard motors, |
| --- | --- |

—

for Showa: Showa is active in the manufacture and supply of components for automobiles, motorcycles and outboard motors,

| — | for Nissin Kogyo: Nissin Kogyo is active in the manufacture and supply of integrated braking systems for vehicles. |
| --- | --- |

—

for Nissin Kogyo: Nissin Kogyo is active in the manufacture and supply of integrated braking systems for vehicles.

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

4.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. The following reference should always be specified:

M.9771 – Hitachi/Honda/HIAMS/Keihin/Showa/Nissin Kogyo

Observations can be sent to the Commission by email, by fax, or by post. Please use the contact details below:

Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu

Fax +32 22964301

Postal address:

| European Commission |
| --- |
| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel |
| BELGIQUE/BELGIË |

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

---

(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘Merger Regulation’).

1

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