1.8.2000 Official Journal of the European Communities L 195/49 COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 29 June 2000 relating to a proceeding pursuant to Article 81 of the EC Treaty (Cases IV/36.456/F3 — Inntre- preneur and 1V/36.492/F3 — Spring) (notified under document number C(2000) 1591) (Only the English text is authentic) (2000/484/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation No 17 of 6 February 1962, first Regulation implementing Articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty (), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1216/ 1999 (3, and in particular Article 2 thereof, Having regard to the applications for negative clearance and the notifications for exemption submitted on 27 March 1997 by the Inntrepreneur Pub Company Limited and The Inntrepre- neur Beer Supply Company Limited and on 29 April 1997 by Spring Inns Limited pursuant to Articles 2 and 4 of Regulation No 17, Having published a summary of the application and noti- fication pursuant to Article 19(3) of Regulation No 17 (%), After consulting the Advisory Committee for Restrictive Prac- tices and Dominant Positions, Whereas: I. THE FACTS A. INTRODUCTION (1)  On 27 March 1997, the Inntrepreneur Pub Company Limited (hereinafter TPCL) and The Inntrepreneur Beer Supply Company Limited (hereinafter ‘TIBSCO’) notified, pursuant to Article 4 of Regulation No 17, the standard OJ 13, 21.2.1962, p. 204/62. () O] L 148, 15.6.1999, p. 5. 0] C 133, 30.4.1998, p. 23 for both cases for the situation after 28 March 1998. form tenancy agreements (hereinafter ‘the Leases’) used for the letting by IPCL and related companies of on- licensed premises () in the United Kingdom. The Leases are in the form used as from 1 January 1997, incorpor- ating a Deed of Variation and Purchasing Agreement. (2 On 29 April 1997, Spring Inns Limited (hereinafter ‘Spring’) notified pursuant to Article 4 of Regulation No 17, the Leases used for letting by Spring and related companies of licensed premises in the United Kingdom. The Spring Leases are also in the form of the lease used by IPCL, that is, as used from 1 January 1997, incorpor- ating a Deed of Variation and Purchasing Agreement. (3) By letter of 23 February 1998, the notifying parties added The Grand Pub Company Ltd (hereinafter ‘GPC) as a party to both notifications and completed these notifications with information as to the operation of the Leases after 28 March 1998. (4 The notifying parties have requested negative clearance of the Leases, or confirmation that the agreements could benefit from the application of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1984/83 of 22 June 1983 on the application of Article 85(3) of the Treaty to categories of exclusive purchasing agreements (°), as last amended by Regula- tion (EC) No 158297 (%), or individual exemption pursuant to Article 81(3) of the Treaty. That Regulation contains in its Title II special provisions for beer-supply agreements. (*) On-licensed premises are those which are licensed to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on and off the premises as opposed to off-licensed premises such as supermarkets which are licensed for off-premises consumption only. () O] L 173, 30.6.1983, p. 5. () O] L 214, 6.8.1997, p. 27.