# C_2016252EN.01001201.xml

| 12.7.2016 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 252/12 |
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12.7.2016

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 252/12

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.8020 — Sherwin-Williams/Valspar)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2016/C 252/06)

| 1. | On 5 July 2016, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Sherwin-Williams Company (‘Sherwin-Williams’, the USA), acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control over the Valspar Corporation (‘Valspar’, the USA) by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 5 July 2016, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Sherwin-Williams Company (‘Sherwin-Williams’, the USA), acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control over the Valspar Corporation (‘Valspar’, the USA) by way of purchase of shares.

1

| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   for Sherwin-Williams: manufactures and sells paints and coatings. It is active mainly in North, Central and South America. In the EEA, Sherwin-Williams sells primarily industrial coatings for wood and protective applications. It also sells decorative coatings but almost exclusively in the UK, Poland and Ireland,
  —   for Valspar: manufactures and sells paints and coatings, with a geographical focus on North America, Europe, Asia and Australia/New Zealand. In the EEA, Valspar sells primarily industrial coatings for packaging, automotive refinish, coil and other metal applications. It also sells decorative coatings, almost exclusively in the UK. |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for Sherwin-Williams: manufactures and sells paints and coatings. It is active mainly in North, Central and South America. In the EEA, Sherwin-Williams sells primarily industrial coatings for wood and protective applications. It also sells decorative coatings but almost exclusively in the UK, Poland and Ireland,

for Sherwin-Williams

—   for Valspar: manufactures and sells paints and coatings, with a geographical focus on North America, Europe, Asia and Australia/New Zealand. In the EEA, Valspar sells primarily industrial coatings for packaging, automotive refinish, coil and other metal applications. It also sells decorative coatings, almost exclusively in the UK.

for Valspar

| 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. |
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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.

| 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 M.8020 — Sherwin-Williams/Valspar, 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 email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.8020 — Sherwin-Williams/Valspar, 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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