Official Journal of the European Union

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.9172 — Liberty House Group/ArcelorMittal Divestment Businesses)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2019/C 117/05)

1. On 19 March 2019, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 ( 1 ) This notification concerns the following undertakings: — Liberty Steel East Europe (Bidco) Limited (UK), controlled by SKG Global Holdings Pte Ltd (Singapore), — Liberty House Group Pte Ltd (Singapore), controlled by SKG Global Holdings Pte Ltd (Singapore), — Galati/Skopje HoldCo (UK), belonging to the group ArcelorMittal (Luxembourg), — ArcelorMittal Ostrava a.s. (Czechia), belonging to the group ArcelorMittal (Luxembourg), — Paloma S.r.l. (Italy), belonging to the group ArcelorMittal (Luxembourg), — Liège Steel Industry SA (Belgium), belonging to the group ArcelorMittal (Luxembourg), — ArcelorMittal Dudelange S.A. (Luxembourg), belonging to the group ArcelorMittal (Luxembourg). Liberty Steel East Europe (Bidco) Limited acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of the whole of Galati/Skopje HoldCo, ArcelorMittal Ostrava a.s., Paloma S.r.l., and four steel service centres in Arcore, Rieti, Quarto Inferiore, and Graffignana (Italy). Liberty House Group Pte Ltd acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of the whole of Liège Steel Industry SA and ArcelorMittal Dudelange S.A. The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares and assets.

2. The business activities of the undertakings concerned are: — for undertakings Liberty Steel East Europe (Bidco) Limited and Liberty House Group Pte Ltd: part of Liberty House Group, a private group active in commodities, metals recycling, and the manufacture of steel, aluminium, and engineering products, — for undertaking Galati/Skopje HoldCo: active in primary steel production and production of different flat carbon steel products in steel production facilities in Galati (Romania) and Skopje (North Macedonia), — for undertaking ArcelorMittal Ostrava a.s.: active in primary steel production and production of flat, long and tubular carbon steel products in Ostrava (Czechia), — for undertaking Paloma S.r.l.: active in the production of cold rolled, galvanised and organic coated flat carbon steel products in Italy, and in steel distribution through a steel service centre in Tillet (France), — for undertaking Liège Steel Industry SA: active in the production of cold rolled, hot-dip galvanised flat carbon steel products and metallic coated steel for packaging in with facilities in Tilleur and Flemalle (Belgium), — for undertaking ArcelorMittal Dudelange S.A.: active in the production of hot-dip and electro galvanised flat carbon steel products in Dudelange (Luxembourg) and as a steel service centre.

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 the Notice.

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. The following reference should always be specified: M.9172 — Liberty House Group/ArcelorMittal Divestment Businesses Observations can be sent to the Commission by email, by fax, or by post. Please use the contact details below: Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu Fax +32 22964301 Postal address: European Commission Directorate-General for Competition Merger Registry 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel BELGIQUE/BELGIË

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

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