# C_2010296EN.01004701.xml

| 30.10.2010 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 296/47 |
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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.5992 — Sud-Chemie/Ashland/ASK JV)

(Text with EEA relevance)

2010/C 296/15

| 1. | On 22 October 2010, 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 Süd-Chemie AG (‘Süd-Chemie’, Germany), controlled by J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., and Ashland Inc. (‘Ashland’, USA), transfer assets to an existing full-function joint venture, Ashland-Südchemie Kernfest GmbH (‘ASK’, Germany), thereby extending the scope of its activities. |
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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
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for Süd-Chemie: development, manufacturing and supply of speciality chemical products for different sectors (energy and environment, adsorbents and additives, catalytic technologies, water treatment, performance packaging and foundry products and speciality resins), —
for Ashland: manufacturing and supply of composite polymers, adhesives, metal casting consumables, process and utility water treatments, cellulose ethers, lubricants, automotive chemicals and distribution of chemicals and plastics and composite materials, —
for ASK: manufacturing and supply of chemical products for the foundry industry and specialty resins, particularly for the paint and coatings industry. ASK will be active in the development, production and sale of foundry consumables such as binders, refractory coatings, feeders, filters and metallurgical additives. | — | for Süd-Chemie: development, manufacturing and supply of speciality chemical products for different sectors (energy and environment, adsorbents and additives, catalytic technologies, water treatment, performance packaging and foundry products and speciality resins), | — | for Ashland: manufacturing and supply of composite polymers, adhesives, metal casting consumables, process and utility water treatments, cellulose ethers, lubricants, automotive chemicals and distribution of chemicals and plastics and composite materials, | — | for ASK: manufacturing and supply of chemical products for the foundry industry and specialty resins, particularly for the paint and coatings industry. ASK will be active in the development, production and sale of foundry consumables such as binders, refractory coatings, feeders, filters and metallurgical additives. |
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| — | for Süd-Chemie: development, manufacturing and supply of speciality chemical products for different sectors (energy and environment, adsorbents and additives, catalytic technologies, water treatment, performance packaging and foundry products and speciality resins), | | | | | | |
| — | for Ashland: manufacturing and supply of composite polymers, adhesives, metal casting consumables, process and utility water treatments, cellulose ethers, lubricants, automotive chemicals and distribution of chemicals and plastics and composite materials, | | | | | | |
| — | for ASK: manufacturing and supply of chemical products for the foundry industry and specialty resins, particularly for the paint and coatings industry. ASK will be active in the development, production and sale of foundry consumables such as binders, refractory coatings, feeders, filters and metallurgical additives. | | | | | | |

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope the EC Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. |
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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 COMP/M.5992 — Sud-Chemie/Ashland/ASK JV, to the following address:
European Commission Directorate-General for Competition Merger Registry J-70 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel BELGIQUE/BELGIË | European Commission | Directorate-General for Competition | Merger Registry | J-70 | 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel | BELGIQUE/BELGIË |
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| 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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