1.   

On 24 January 2020, 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:

—	Aperam Alloys Imphy SAS, (‘Aperam’, Luxembourg), a fully-owned subsidiary of Aperam S.A.

—	Tekna Plasma Europe SAS (‘Tekna’, Norway), an indirect subsidiary of Arendals Fossekompani ASA.

—	ImphyTek Powders SAS (‘ImphyTek Powders’, France).

Aperam and Tekna acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of ImphyTek Powders.

The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture.

2.   

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—	For Aperam: manufacturing and sales of stainless, electrical and specialty alloys steel, with customers in over 40 countries,

—	For Tekna: manufacturing of atomisers and peripheral equipment to produce metallic powders,

—	ImphyTek Powders: manufacturing and sales of nickel alloys powders.

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.9707 — Aperam Alloys Imphy/Tekna Plasma Europe/ImphyTek Powders

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