# C_2015083EN.01001501.xml

| 11.3.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 83/15 |
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11.3.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 83/15

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7517 — Hebei Iron & Steel Group/DPH/Duferco International Trading Holding)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 83/05)

| 1. | On 3 March 2015, 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 Hebei Iron & Steel Group (‘HBIS’, China) and Duferco Participations Holding S.A. (‘DPH’, Luxembourg) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the undertaking Duferco International Trading Holding (‘DITH’, Luxembourg) by way of purchase of shares. DITH is currently controlled by DPH. |
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1.

On 3 March 2015, 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 Hebei Iron & Steel Group (‘HBIS’, China) and Duferco Participations Holding S.A. (‘DPH’, Luxembourg) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the undertaking Duferco International Trading Holding (‘DITH’, Luxembourg) by way of purchase of shares. DITH is currently controlled by DPH.

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   for Hebei Iron & Steel Group (HBIS): production and sale of iron and steel goods,
  —   for Duferco Participations Holding S.A. (DPH): holding company owning activities including the steel sector,
  —   for Duferco International Trading Holding (DITH): trading and non-stockholding distribution of steel goods. |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for Hebei Iron & Steel Group (HBIS): production and sale of iron and steel goods,

for Hebei Iron & Steel Group (HBIS)

—   for Duferco Participations Holding S.A. (DPH): holding company owning activities including the steel sector,

for Duferco Participations Holding S.A. (DPH)

—   for Duferco International Trading Holding (DITH): trading and non-stockholding distribution of steel goods.

for Duferco International Trading Holding (DITH)

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the 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 Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in this Notice. |
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3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the 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 Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in this 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 e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.7517 — Hebei Iron & Steel Group/DPH/Duferco International Trading Holding, to the following address:





  European Commission |
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| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| 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 e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.7517 — Hebei Iron & Steel Group/DPH/Duferco International Trading Holding, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

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

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(2)  OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.

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