# C_2015321EN.01000401.xml

| 29.9.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 321/4 |
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29.9.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 321/4

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7774 — Antofagasta/Barrick/Zaldívar)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 321/05)

| 1. | On 21 September 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 undertakings Antofagasta PLC (‘Antofagasta’, United Kingdom) and Barrick Gold Corporation (‘Barrick’ Canada) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the undertaking Compañía Minera Zaldívar SpA (‘Zaldívar SpA’ Chile), currently wholly owned by Barrick, by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 21 September 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 undertakings Antofagasta PLC (‘Antofagasta’, United Kingdom) and Barrick Gold Corporation (‘Barrick’ Canada) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the undertaking Compañía Minera Zaldívar SpA (‘Zaldívar SpA’ Chile), currently wholly owned by Barrick, by way of purchase of shares.

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   for Antofagasta: mining group which operates three copper mines located in Chile, two of which produce by-products such as gold, silver and molybdenum;
  —   for Barrick: mining group operating 16 mines worldwide, most of which are focused on the production of gold with the exception of two copper mines; the group also owns a majority interest in Acacia Mining plc, which operates three gold mines in Africa;
  —   for Zaldívar SpA: newly created company which will operate the Zaldívar mine in Chile, an open-pit heap-leach mine that produces copper, and is currently indirectly owned by Barrick. |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for Antofagasta: mining group which operates three copper mines located in Chile, two of which produce by-products such as gold, silver and molybdenum;

for Antofagasta

—   for Barrick: mining group operating 16 mines worldwide, most of which are focused on the production of gold with the exception of two copper mines; the group also owns a majority interest in Acacia Mining plc, which operates three gold mines in Africa;

for Barrick

—   for Zaldívar SpA: newly created company which will operate the Zaldívar mine in Chile, an open-pit heap-leach mine that produces copper, and is currently indirectly owned by Barrick.

for Zaldívar SpA

| 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.7774 — Antofagasta/Barrick/Zaldívar, 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.7774 — Antofagasta/Barrick/Zaldívar, 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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