# C_2012196EN.01001601.xml

| 4.7.2012 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 196/16 |
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4.7.2012

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 196/16

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.6624 — Bekaert/Southern Steel Berhad/Bekaert Southern Wire)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

2012/C 196/10

| 1. | On 25 June 2012, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which NV Bekaert SA (‘Bekaert’, Belgium) and Southern Steel Berhad (‘Southern Steel’, Malaysia), a subsidiary of Hong Leong Company (Malaysia) Berhad (the ‘Hong Leong Group’, Malaysia), acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control over of a newly created joint venture (‘Bekaert Southern Wire Pte Ltd.’, Singapore), by way of a purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 25 June 2012, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which NV Bekaert SA (‘Bekaert’, Belgium) and Southern Steel Berhad (‘Southern Steel’, Malaysia), a subsidiary of Hong Leong Company (Malaysia) Berhad (the ‘Hong Leong Group’, Malaysia), acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control over of a newly created joint venture (‘Bekaert Southern Wire Pte Ltd.’, Singapore), by way of a purchase of shares.

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






  — | for Bekaert: producing and marketing a wide range of products in the areas of drawn steel wire, advanced metal transformation, advanced materials and coatings, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for Bekaert: producing and marketing a wide range of products in the areas of drawn steel wire, advanced metal transformation, advanced materials and coatings,

| — | for Southern Steel: manufacturing, sale and trading in steel products. Southern Steel is a subsidiary of the Hong Leong Group, a large conglomerate active in property development, hotel ownership, as well as management, finance and manufacturing of industrial and building materials, |
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for Southern Steel: manufacturing, sale and trading in steel products. Southern Steel is a subsidiary of the Hong Leong Group, a large conglomerate active in property development, hotel ownership, as well as management, finance and manufacturing of industrial and building materials,

| — | for the joint venture: manufacturing and sale of steel wire in the ASEAN region (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam). |
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for the joint venture: manufacturing and sale of steel wire in the ASEAN region (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam).

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the EC Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under the EC Merger Regulation (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice. |
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3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the EC Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under the EC Merger Regulation (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

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| 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 22964301), by email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.6624 — Bekaert/Southern Steel Berhad/Bekaert Southern Wire, to the following address:





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

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 22964301), by email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.6624 — Bekaert/Southern Steel Berhad/Bekaert Southern Wire, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

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(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘EC Merger Regulation’).

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(2)  OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32 (‘Notice on a simplified procedure’).

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