Case No COMP/M.4270 - PLATINUM EQUITY / TEXTRON FASTENING SYSTEMS

Only the English text is available and authentic.

REGULATION (EC) No 139/2004 MERGER PROCEDURE

Article 6(1)(b) NON-OPPOSITION Date: 31/07/2006

In electronic form on the EUR-Lex website under document number 32006M4270

Office for Official Publications of the European Communities L-2985 Luxembourg

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 31/07/2006

SG-Greffe(2006) D/204356

MERGER PROCEDURE ARTICLE 6(1)(b) DECISION

SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE

PUBLIC VERSION

To the notifying party

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

1.On 23.06.2006 the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 by which the undertaking Platinum Equity LLC (ìPlatinumî, USA) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the Fastening Systems Business of Textron , Inc. (ìTFS,î USA) by way of purchase of shares and assets.

1OJ L 24, 29.1.2004 p. 1

Commission europÈenne, B-1049 Bruxelles / Europese Commissie, B-1049 Brussel - Belgium. Telephone: (32-2) 299 11 11.

2.The business activities of the undertakings concerned are :

-- for Platinum: private equity firm specializing in acquisition of companies with a broad range of business markets;

-- for TFS: fasteners (such as nuts, bolts and screws), fastening systems and services.

3.After examination of the notification, the Commission has concluded that the notified operation falls within the scope of Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004 and of paragraph 5, subparagraph ( c ) of the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004.

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 (EC) No. 139/2004.

For the Commission, signed by Lowri Evans Philip LOWE Director General

2OJ C 56, 05.3.2005 p.32

2