EN

Case No COMP/M.2580 - COLLINS & AIKMAN PRODUCT / TEXTRON AUTOMOTIVE TRIM

Only the English text is available and authentic.

REGULATION (EEC) No 4064/89 MERGER PROCEDURE

Article 6(1)(b) NON-OPPOSITION Date: 14/09/2001

Also available in the CELEX database Document No 301M2580

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

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 14.09.2001

SG (2001) D/291351

PUBLIC VERSION

MERGER PROCEDURE ARTICLE 6(1)(b) DECISION

SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE

To the notifying party

Dear Sirs,

Subject: Case No. COMP/M.2580 ñ Collins & Aikman Products / Textron Automotive Trim Notification of 13 August 2001 pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 14064/89 Publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities No. C239, 25/08/2001.

1.On 13 August 2001, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 4064/89 by which the US based undertaking Collins & Aikman Corporation (ìC&ACî), controlled by Heartland Industrial Partners LP (ìHeartlandî) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of parts of the US based undertaking Textron Inc. (ìTextronî), hereby acquiring all subsidiaries of Textron Automotive Trim (ìAutomotive Trimî) by way of purchase of shares.

1OJ L 395, 30.12.1989 p. 1; corrected version OJ L 257 of 21.9.1990, p. 13, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1310/97, OJ L 180, 9.7.1997, p. 1, corrigendum in OJ L 40, 13.2.1998, p. 17.

Rue de la Loi 200, B-1049 Bruxelles/Wetstraat 200, B-1049 Brussel - Belgium Telephone: exchange 299.11.11 Telex: COMEU B 21877. Telegraphic address: COMEUR Brussels.

2.The business activities of the undertakings concerned are :

-- for C&AC : automotive interior products and automotive roof systems.

-- for Heartland: US based private investment company.

-- for Textron: multi-industry company with operations in the aircraft and automotive industry, industrial products and finance.

-- for Automotive Trim : automotive interior and exterior products.

3.After examination of the notification, the Commission has concluded that the notified operation falls within the scope of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 4064/89 and of section 4(c) of the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain

concentrations under Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/892.

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 (EEC) No. 4064/89.

For the Commission

Mario MONTI Member of the Commission (signed)

2OJ C 217, 29.07.2000, p. 32.

2