32002M2900

Commission Decision of 07/08/2002 declaring a concentration to be compatible with the common market (Case No IV/M.2900 - OUTOKUMPU OYJ / AVESTAPOLARIT OYJ) according to Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 (Only the English text is authentic)

To the notifying parties

Dear Madam(s) and/or Sir(s),

Subject: Case No. COMP/M.2900 - Outokumpu Oyj / AvestaPolarit Oyj Abp

Notification of 10.07.2002 pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 4064/89 [1] Publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities No. C 172 of 18.07.2002

[1] OJ L 395, 30.12.1989 p. 1; corrected version OJ L 257 of 21.9.1990, p. 13, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1310/97, OJ L 180, 9.7.1997, p. 1, corrigendum in OJ L 40, 13.2.1998, p. 17.

1. On 10.07.2002, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 4064/89 by which the undertaking Outokumpu Oyj ("Outokumpu"), Finland, acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of AvestaPolarit Oyj Abp ("AvestaPolarit"), Finland, currently jointly controlled by Outokumpu and the Corus Group plc (UK), by way of purchase of shares.

2. The business activities of the undertakings concerned are :

- for: Outokumpu: copper products, metallurgy, stainless steel and other industrial operations such as mining

- for AvestaPolarit: stainless steel production

3. After examination of the notification, the Commission has concluded that the notified operation falls within the scope of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 4064/89 and of paragraph 4, subparagraph c, of the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 [2].

[2] OJ C 217, 29.07.2000, p. 32.

4. For the reasons set out in the Notice on a simplified procedure, the Commission has decided not to oppose the notified operation and to declare it compatible with the common market and with the EEA Agreement. This decision is adopted in application of Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 4064/89.

For the Commission