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Case No COMP/M.7302 - STYROLUTION / BRASKEM / JV

Only the English text is available and authentic.

REGULATION (EC) No 139/2004 MERGER PROCEDURE

Article 6(1)(b) NON-OPPOSITION Date: 19/03/2015

In electronic form on the EUR-Lex website under document number 32015M7302

Office for Publications of the European Union L-2985 Luxembourg

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 19.3.2015 C(2015) 1988 final

PUBLIC VERSION

SIMPLIFIED MERGER PROCEDURE

To the notifying parties:

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

1.On 23 February 2015, the European Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of the Merger Regulation by which Styrolution Group GmbH ("Styrolution", Germany) and Braskem S.A. ("Braskem", Brazil) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of a newly created company constituting a joint venture ("JV") by way of purchase of shares.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

−− for Styrolution: manufacturing and selling a range of thermoplastic resins based on styrene for use in different applications;

1OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the "Merger Regulation"). With effect from 1 December 2009, the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union ("TFEU") has introduced certain changes, such as the replacement of "Community" by "Union" and "common market" by "internal market". The terminology of the TFEU will be used throughout this decision.

2OJ L 1, 3.1.1994, p.3 ("the EEA Agreement").

3Publication in the Official Journal of the European Union No C 072, 28.02.2015, p. 25.

Commission européenne, DG COMP MERGER REGISTRY, 1049 Bruxelles, BELGIQUE Europese Commissie, DG COMP MERGER REGISTRY, 1049 Brussel, BELGIË Tel: +32 229-91111. Fax: +32 229-64301. E-mail: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu.

−− for Braskem: manufacturing and selling of thermoplastic resins (such as polyethylene, polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride ) as well as basic raw chemical materials;

−− for the JV: selling in Brazil and other South American countries certain thermoplastic resins produced by the JV in Brazil. The JV will also be active on an agency basis selling in South America other thermoplastic resins that are produced by Styrolution.

3.After examination of the notification, the European Commission has concluded that the notified operation falls within the scope of the Merger Regulation and of paragraph 5(a) 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 European Commission has decided not to oppose the notified operation and to declare it compatible with the internal market and with the EEA Agreement. This decision is adopted in application of Article 6(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation and Article 57 of the EEA Agreement.

For the Commission

(signed) Alexander ITALIANER Director-General

4OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.

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