# C_2006141EN.01000501.xml

| 16.6.2006 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 141/5 |
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16.6.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 141/5

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4256 — Xstrata/Falconbridge)

(2006/C 141/04)

(Text with EEA relevance)

| 1. | On 8 June 2006, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Xstrata plc (‘Xstrata’, Switzerland) controlled by Glencore International AG, (‘Glencore’, Switzerland), acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of Falconbridge Limited (‘Falconbridge’, Canada) by way of a public bid announced on 17 May 2006. |
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1.

On 8 June 2006, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Xstrata plc (‘Xstrata’, Switzerland) controlled by Glencore International AG, (‘Glencore’, Switzerland), acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of Falconbridge Limited (‘Falconbridge’, Canada) by way of a public bid announced on 17 May 2006.

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:






  — | for Xstrata: mining, smelting, processing and sale of coal, copper, zinc and alloys with additional exposures to gold, lead and silver; |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for Xstrata: mining, smelting, processing and sale of coal, copper, zinc and alloys with additional exposures to gold, lead and silver;

| — | for Glencore: trading in metals and minerals (aluminium, zinc, copper, ferroalloys, nickel), energy products (oil products and coal) and agricultural products, supported by industrial investments and ownership interests in mining operations; |
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for Glencore: trading in metals and minerals (aluminium, zinc, copper, ferroalloys, nickel), energy products (oil products and coal) and agricultural products, supported by industrial investments and ownership interests in mining operations;

| — | for Falconbridge: mining, processing, refining and sale of various nickel products, copper, cobalt, lead, zinc, aluminium and precious metals as well as sulphur products. |
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for Falconbridge: mining, processing, refining and sale of various nickel products, copper, cobalt, lead, zinc, aluminium and precious metals as well as sulphur products.

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. |
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3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

| 4. | The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.
  Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.4256 — Xstrata/Falconbridge, to the following address:





  European Commission |
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| Competition DG |
| Merger Registry |
| J-70 |
| B-1049 Brussels |

4.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.4256 — Xstrata/Falconbridge, to the following address:

European Commission

Competition DG

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Brussels

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(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

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