Disclaimer :

The Competition DG makes the information provided by the notifying parties in section 1.2 of Form CO available to the public in order to increase transparency. This information has been prepared by the notifying parties under their sole responsibility, and its content in no way prejudges the view the Commission may take of the planned operation. Nor can the Commission be held responsible for any incorrect or misleading information contained therein.

SECTION 1.2

Description of the concentration

1.1. The Commission has received notification of a proposed concentration under Article 4

of Council Regulation (EC) No.139/2004 relating to the proposed acquisition by

EuroChem Trading GmbH ("EuroChem Trading") of certain companies (together,

"K+S Nitrogen") owned by K+S AG that constitute K+S AG's current activities in

the sale of nitrogen fertilisers (the "Proposed Acquisition"). The Proposed

Acquisition was publicly announced by the Parties on 8 May 2012.

2. The principal business activities of the parties are the following:

-– EuroChem Trading is a wholly-owned subsidiary of OJSC "Mineral and

Chemical Company EuroChem", a Russian-based company active in the mining of

minerals and the manufacture and sale of mineral fertilisers. EuroChem Trading's

group includes OJSC "Siberian Coal Energy Company" ("SUEK"). SUEK

undertakes coal mining activities in Russia and supplies coal to customers worldwide.

-– K+S Nitrogen sells straight nitrogen and NPK fertilisers of independent

companies, historically primarily manufactured by BASF in Antwerp.

3. The Proposed Acquisition relates to the markets for nitrogen, phosphorus and

potassium mineral field fertilisers.

4. The Proposed Acquisition qualifies for Short Form Notification pursuant to paragraph

5(c) of the Commission's notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain

concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004.