PARIS – The European Commission on July 20 approved the Airbus Safran Launchers (ASL) takeover of launch-services provider Arianespace, saying the companies had accepted conditions the commission imposed to minimize the chance of anti-competitive behavior.

The decision, which was expected, is likely to result in ASL’s payment of about 150 million euros ($166 million) to the French space agency, CNES, which holds the 35 percent stake on behalf of the French government. CNES officials have said they will be able to invest the money into their own programs without forwarding it to the French government’s general treasury. The transaction is expected within weeks.

The commission concluded that Evry, France-based Arianespace does not have a monopoly on global commercial launch services. Hawthorne, California-based SpaceX and International Launch Services of Reston, Virginiait diplomatically, not fans of his work--has proved himself the man for the job. He took famous works from five legendary painters--Vincent Van Gogh, Leonardo da Vinci, Jean-Honoré Fragonard, Peter Paul Rubens and Titian--stretched them across Louis Vuitton's most famous leather goods, like the Speedy, Neverfull and Zippy wallet, and then belabored the point by spelling out the artists' extremely famous names in giant gold letters across the front. The interiors also include details about the work and artist, which is the only detail I actually like.

In an interview with The New York Times, Vuitton CEO Michael Burke admits he expects some negative reactions to the designs. "I think we’re going to get some pushback. People are going to be upset about the sacred entering the realm of