21.10.2004   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 259/2


Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3536 — Outokumpu Wasacopper/Aurajoki/Cupru JV)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2004/C 259/02)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1.

On 11 October 2004 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 Outokumpu Wasacopper Oy (‘Wasacopper’, Finland), belonging to the Outokumpu Group (Finland), and Aurajoki Oy (‘Aurajoki’, Finland), controlled by CapMan Oyj (Finland), acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of Cupru Oy, the name of which will be changed to AuraCoat Oy (‘AuraCoat’, Finland), by way of purchase of shares.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

for Wasacopper: copper and other metal products,

for Aurajoki: metal plating, and

for AuraCoat: electrolytic metal plating.

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under 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. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (No +32 2 2964301 or 2967244) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.3536 — Outokumpu Wasacopper/Aurajoki/Cupru JV to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition,

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel


(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

(2)  Available on DG COMP website:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/competition/mergers/legislation/consultation/simplified_tru.pdf.