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

The proposed concentration concerns the acquisition by the Notifying Party, Kronospan Holding GmbH in Bischweier, Germany, of the raw and coated particleboard, the decorative laminates and the so-called ìHalbteileî (components) business of Constantia Industries AG in Vienna, Austria. Kronospan Holding GmbH is a German sub-holding within the Kronospan group of companies, which comprises several privately owned and separately consolidated groups. These groups are active in different territories worldwide in the production and sale of wood-based boards and related products. The Target consists of several business units/companies belonging to the Constantia Industries group:

• The raw and coated particleboard business of FunderMax GmbH, Vienna Neudorf, Austria;

• About 90 % of the shares in Falco CC, Szombathely, Hungary;

• All shares in Sprela GmbH, Spremberg, Germany.

The proposed transaction is a concentration within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the EC Merger Regulation in the form of the acquisition of direct control by means of a contractual purchase of securities (shares) and assets. The proposed concentration concerns certain markets in the wood-based products industry where both Kronospan and the Target are present. The relevant product markets are the markets for raw particleboard, coated particleboard, decorative laminates and so called components, as defined in the Commission decision of June 28, 2006 in Case COMP/M.4165 - Sonae Ind˙stria / Hornitex.