Brussels, 07.03.2018

C(2018) 1525 final

To the notifying party

Subject:Case M.8814 - Melrose/GKN
Commission decision pursuant to Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 1 and Article 57 of the Agreement on the European Economic Area 2  

Dear Sir or Madam,

1.On 9 February 2018, the European Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of the Merger Regulation by which Melrose Industries plc ('Melrose', United Kingdom) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of GKN plc ('GKN', United Kingdom) by way of public bid. 3

2.The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

-for Melrose: acquisition of high quality manufacturing business with exposure to strong end markets and provision of management services with the view of profiting from their eventual sale. Currently, Melrose has two operating business: (i) Brush Electrical Machines that provides products and services for the energy sector; and (ii) Nortek Inc that manufactures air management products, heating and cooling systems, wireless security, home automation and personal safety systems,

-for GKN: GKN is a global engineering group and its activities are focused on the automotive, aerospace, powder metallurgy systems and wheels and structures for off-highway vehicles.

3.After examination of the notification, the European Commission has concluded that the notified operation falls within the scope of the Merger Regulation and of paragraph 5(b) of the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. 4

4.For the reasons set out in the Notice on a simplified procedure, the European Commission has decided not to oppose the notified operation and to declare it compatible with the internal market and with the EEA Agreement. This decision is adopted in application of Article 6(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation and Article 57 of the EEA Agreement.

For the Commission

(signed)
Johannes LAITENBERGER
Director-General

(1)

   OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the 'Merger Regulation'). With effect from 1 December 2009, the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union ('TFEU') has introduced certain changes, such as the replacement of 'Community' by 'Union' and 'common market' by 'internal market'. The terminology of the TFEU will be used throughout this decision.

(2)      OJ L 1, 3.1.1994, p. 3 (the 'EEA Agreement').

(3)      Publication in the Official Journal of the European Union No C 62, 17.2.2018, p. 6.

(4)

     OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.