Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

4.5.2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 132/3

Preliminary notice of the agreements concerning the �Raising standards quality mark scheme�

(Case COMP/D-1/38.095 �ABI + PPIAB)

(2001/C 132/03)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1. On 9 March 2001 the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and the Pensions, Protection and
Investments Accreditation Board Limited (PPIAB) submitted to the Commission a joint application for
negative clearance and notification for individual exemption of their agreements in relation to the �Raising
standards quality mark scheme�(formerly known as the Savings and long-term risk project) (�Project
SALTR�), pursuant to Articles 2 and 4 of Council Regulation No 17 ( [1] ).

2. The agreements relate to the introduction of an accreditation scheme based on a set of voluntary
standards developed by the Industry Standards Group (ISG), established by the ABI. The accreditation
scheme is applicable initially to retail savings and protection products in the UK, with the aim of
eventually applying to other retail financial service products in the UK. Brands whose products and
services meet the standards underpinning the accreditation scheme will be awarded a quality mark by
an independent accreditation body, PPIAB, which administers the accreditation scheme. The first wave of
accreditations of brands of products is expected in October 2001.

3. The Commission invites interested parties to send it any comments they have on the agreements.

Comments must reach the Commission no later than one month following the date of publication of this
notice. They may be sent by fax or by post, quoting reference COMP/D-1/38.095 �ABI + PPIAB, to:

European Commission
Directorate-General for Competition
Directorate D
Office: J-70, 02/221
Rue Joseph II/Jozef II-straat 70
B-1000 Brussels
Fax (32-2) 296 98 07.

( [1] ) OJ 13, 21.2.1962, p. 204/62.

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.2451 �Hilton/Scandic)

(2001/C 132/04)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1. On 25 April 2001 the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to
Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 ( [1] ), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1310/97 ( [2] ),
by which the undertaking Hilton Group plc acquires, within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the
Regulation, control of the whole of the undertaking Scandic Hotels AB, by way of public bid
announced on 23 April 2001.

2. The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

�Hilton Group plc: hotels and regulated gaming,

�Scandic Hotels AB: hotels.

( [1] ) OJ L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 1; corrigendum: OJ L 257, 21.9.1990, p. 13.
( [2] ) OJ L 180, 9.7.1997, p. 1; corrigendum: OJ L 40, 13.2.1998, p. 17.