EU Commission approves Internet-services venture

AOL/CIS France S.A.S.'s creation has received the approval of the European Commission. The France-based firm, a joint venture between Bertelsmann AG, America Online Inc., Cegetel SA and Canal SA, is expected to market, develop and provide Internet access services to non-business entities in France. Under the terms of the approval, AOL/CIS will acquire CompuServe Interactive Services France SNC and AOL Bertelsmann Online France SNC, two AOL/Bertelsmann ventures that are already operating in France, as its wholly-owned subsidiaries.