Disclaimer :

The Competition DG makes the information provided by the notifying parties in section 1.2 of Form CO available to the public in order to increase transparency. This information has been prepared by the notifying parties under their sole responsibility, and its content in no way prejudges the view the Commission may take of the planned operation. Nor can the Commission be held responsible for any incorrect or misleading information contained therein.

SECTION 1.2

Description of the concentration

1.2 Provide a summary (up to 500 words) of the information provided under Section

1.1. It is intended that this summary will be published on the Commissionís

website at the date of notification. The summary must be drafted so that it

contains no confidential information or business secrets.

The notification relates to the proposed acquisition by OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel (ìNorilsk Nickelî) of the nickel business of OM Group, Inc. (ìOMGî) within the meaning of Article 3.1(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. Norilsk Nickel, together with its subsidiaries, is a Russian-based group active internationally in the mining, processing, refining, and sale of nonferrous metals, including nickel, copper and cobalt as well as platinum group metals.

OMG is active internationally in the mining, processing and refining of nickel and is an international producer and marketer of value-added, nickel and cobalt-based and other metal based specialty chemicals and functional materials.

OMGís nickel business comprises certain stock and tangible and intangible business assets including OMGís nickel refinery in Finland, OMGís Australian nickel mine and leaching facility and, as well as minority interests in MPI Mines Pty. Ltd., an Australian mining company, Talvivaaran Kaivososakeyhtiˆ, a Finnish mining company, and Hyena Holding AB, a Swedish company established to explore and develop an undeveloped nickel-cobalt prospect in Morocco.