# C_2008014EN.01003701.xml

| 19.1.2008 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 14/37 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

19.1.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 14/37

---

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4961 — Cookson/Foseco)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2008/C 14/14)

| 1. | On 15 January 2008, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Cookson plc (‘Cookson’, United Kingdom) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Foseco plc (‘Foseco’, United Kingdom) by way of public bid announced on 11 October 2007. |
| --- | --- |

1.

On 15 January 2008, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Cookson plc (‘Cookson’, United Kingdom) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Foseco plc (‘Foseco’, United Kingdom) by way of public bid announced on 11 October 2007.

1

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






  — | for Cookson: Cookson is a materials science company operating on a worldwide basis in the ceramics, electronics and precious metals industries. Cookson's Ceramics division is primarily a supplier of refractories to a number of industries such as the iron and steel industry and to a lesser extent, technical ceramics (in particular filters) to the glass, solar power and foundry industries, |
| --- | --- | --- |

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

for Cookson: Cookson is a materials science company operating on a worldwide basis in the ceramics, electronics and precious metals industries. Cookson's Ceramics division is primarily a supplier of refractories to a number of industries such as the iron and steel industry and to a lesser extent, technical ceramics (in particular filters) to the glass, solar power and foundry industries,

| — | for Foseco: Foseco is a supplier of primarily consumable products for use in foundries (e.g. filters) and to a lesser extent refractory products for use in the production of iron and steel. The company is active on a global scale. |
| --- | --- |

—

for Foseco: Foseco is a supplier of primarily consumable products for use in foundries (e.g. filters) and to a lesser extent refractory products for use in the production of iron and steel. The company is active on a global scale.

| 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. |
| --- | --- |

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 ((32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.4961 — Cookson/Foseco, to the following address:





  European Commission |
| --- | --- |
| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| J-70 |
| B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel |

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 ((32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.4961 — Cookson/Foseco, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

---

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

1

---