EN

Case No COMP/M.3586 - RIPPLEWOOD / HONSEL

Only the English text is available and authentic.

REGULATION (EEC) No 139/2004 MERGER PROCEDURE

Article 6(1)(b) NON-OPPOSITION Date: 28/10/2004

Also available in the CELEX database Document No 32004M3586

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

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 28/10/2004

SG-Greffe(2004) D/205041

PUBLIC VERSION

MERGER PROCEDURE ARTICLE 6(1)(b) DECISION

SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE

To the notifying party

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

1.On 30.09.2004, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004 by which the undertaking Ripplewood Investments L.L.C. (ìRipplewoodî, USA), acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking The Honsel Group (ìHonselî, Luxemburg) by way of purchase of shares.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

-- for Ripplewood: private equity firm,

-- for Honsel: light-metal (aluminium and magnesium) processing of parts and components for the automobile and non-automobile industry.

2.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

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.

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) Mario MONTI Member of the Commission

2Available on DG COMP website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/competition/mergers/legislation/consultation/simplified_tru.pdf.

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