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.

COMP/M. 4092 - ANDRITZ / K‹STERS

SECTION 1.2

Description of the concentration

Andritz AG, the Austrian high technology group, will acquire a 60% controlling interest in K¸sters Technologie GmbH & Co. KG and K¸sters Beteiligungs GmbH, both based in Germany (called together here ìK¸stersî). The current owner of these companies is Jagenberg AG (also based in Germany), which will continue to own a 40% non-controlling minority interest in these companies. Andritz will have industrial leadership of the business it is acquiring, which will be renamed ìAndritz K¸stersî.

Andritz provides machinery, technology and services in five business areas: pulp and paper; rolling mills and strip processing lines; environment and process; feed technology; and hydraulic machines; and other activities.

K¸sters continues the activities of the ìpaperî and ìnon-wovenî business divisions of the now defunct Eduard K¸sters Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG. K¸sters is mainly active in the manufacture and worldwide supply of calenders (including related parts and services) that are used in the production of paper, textiles and non-woven products worldwide. K¸sters is also active in the manufacture and supply of nip rolls (with related parts and services), which are used in board dewatering shoe presses worldwide.