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Case No COMP/M.4829 - UMICORE / NORSK HYDRO / HYCORE JV

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REGULATION (EC) No 139/2004 MERGER PROCEDURE

Article 6(1)(b) NON-OPPOSITION Date: 29/08/2007

In electronic form on the EUR-Lex website under document number 32007M4829

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

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 29-08-2007

SG-Greffe(2007) D/205233 SG-Greffe(2007) D/205234

PUBLIC VERSION

MERGER PROCEDURE ARTICLE 6(1)(b) DECISION

SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE

To the notifying parties:

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

Subject: Case No. COMP/M.4829 - UMICORE/ NORSK HYDRO/ HYCORE JV Notification of 26-07-2007 pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004 Publication in the Official Journal of the European Union No. C 181 of 3/08/2007, page 26.

1.On 26-07-2007 the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004 by which the undertakings Umicore ("Umicore", Belgium) and Norsk Hydro ("Norsk Hydro, Norway) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1) (b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking Hycore ANS ("Hycore", Norway) by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

-- for Umicore: advanced materials, precious metal products and catalysts, precious metal services and zinc specialties.

-- for Norsk Hydro: development, production and supply of aluminium, oil, gas, hydropower and alternative energy sources

1OJ L 24, 29.1.2004 p. 1

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

-- for Hycore: development, manufacturing and marketing of solar grade silicon for photovoltaic applications.

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 5(b) of the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004

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 N.Calvino) Philip LOWE Director General

2OJ C 56, 05.3.2005 p.32

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