# C_2011138EN.01002601.xml

| 7.5.2011 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 138/26 |
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7.5.2011

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 138/26

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.6246 — OJSC Novolipetsk Steel/Steel Invest & Finance)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

2011/C 138/10

| 1. | On 28 April 2011, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which OJSC Novolipetsk Steel (‘NLMK’, Russia) acquires sole control within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of Steel Invest & Finance (Luxembourg) SA (‘SIF’, Luxembourg) by way of purchase of shares. SIF is presently under the indirect joint control of NLMK and Duferco Participations Holding Limited (Duferco). Concurrently with (or shortly following) the completion of the Transaction, certain businesses presently directly or indirectly controlled by SIF will be spun-off by the SIF group and will be transferred to Duferco. The Spin-Off Businesses are: Carsid SA, and the following assets and activities of Duferco La Louvière SA and its affiliates: the electric arc furnace and wire rod mill located at the company’s site at La Louvière, Belgium and the wire drawing line situated at the company’s site at Tildonk, Belgium. |
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1.

On 28 April 2011, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which OJSC Novolipetsk Steel (‘NLMK’, Russia) acquires sole control within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of Steel Invest & Finance (Luxembourg) SA (‘SIF’, Luxembourg) by way of purchase of shares. SIF is presently under the indirect joint control of NLMK and Duferco Participations Holding Limited (Duferco). Concurrently with (or shortly following) the completion of the Transaction, certain businesses presently directly or indirectly controlled by SIF will be spun-off by the SIF group and will be transferred to Duferco. The Spin-Off Businesses are: Carsid SA, and the following assets and activities of Duferco La Louvière SA and its affiliates: the electric arc furnace and wire rod mill located at the company’s site at La Louvière, Belgium and the wire drawing line situated at the company’s site at Tildonk, Belgium.

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






  — | NLMK: carbon steel semi-finished and finished flat products, carbon steel semi-finished and finished long products and electrical steel products, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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NLMK: carbon steel semi-finished and finished flat products, carbon steel semi-finished and finished long products and electrical steel products,

| — | SIF: carbon steel semi-finished and finished flat products. |
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SIF: carbon steel semi-finished and finished flat products.

| 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.6246 — OJSC Novolipetsk Steel/Steel Invest & Finance, 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.6246 — OJSC Novolipetsk Steel/Steel Invest & Finance, 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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