The European Commission has given the go-ahead for Rexam plc (Knightsbridge 114, GB-London SW1X 7NN) to acquire the Swedish packaging manufacturer PLM AB (PO Box 836 S-20180 Malmö). According to a statement from the Brussels authorities issued last Tuesday, the market shares of both parties are too small to create any problems from the angle of competition law. There is also a series of sufficiently strong competitors on the market. Rexam had offered SEK 5.13m for PLM at the end of November in a public subscription offer (see PIE No. 23, 1998 “Pointers”). According to the Commission, the only overlaps are for thin-walled plastic containers, beakers and packagings for pharmaceuticals. These, however, represent less than 10% in the European Economic Area in each case, and with Polarcup, Autobar, Van Leer, RPC and Duni, there are also a sufficient number of competitors on these markets. At national level, Brussels established an overlap for plastics beakers in Great Britain. This does not exceed a market share of 15%, however, and there are thus no objections to the acquisition.