France: administrators must get the European Commission’s statement of objections on a merger project

Through a decision rendered on January 29, 2008, the French Supreme Court's Commercial Chamber confirmed the decision rendered by the Paris Court of Appeal which enjoined the chairman of Gaz de France's board to give salaried administrators the full statement of objections sent by the European Commission about the merger with Suez. This ruling lifts the veil on this document's confidentiality, which points to the obstruction to competition which the considered operation has on staff representatives, but simply having regard to their status as administrators. (Ref. 080122)