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

This notification relates to the acquisition by Anglo American plc (“Anglo American”) and BHP Billiton (as described below) of joint control over Samancor Holdings Proprietary Limited, Groote Eylandt Mining Company Pty and Samancor AG (together,“Samancor”), currently solely controlled, for the purposes of the EU Merger Regulation, by BHP Billiton.

Samancor is owned 60% by BHP Billiton and 40% by Anglo American and is a leading player in the production and supply of manganese ore and manganese alloys from production sites in South Africa and Australia. Manganese ore is essentially used to produce manganese alloys, which are, in turn, used in the production of steel.

Anglo American is a company incorporated in England and Wales with a premium (formerly primary) listing on the London Stock Exchange and secondary listings on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, SWX Swiss Exchange, Botswana Stock Exchange and Namibian Stock Exchange. Anglo American is one of the world’s largest mining companies. Its portfolio of mining assets and natural resources includes platinum group metals, diamonds, copper, iron ore, metallurgical coal, niobium nickel and thermal coal as well as interest in manganese (through Samancor) and other mining and industrial businesses. Anglo American’s operations are geographically diverse, with operations in southern Africa, South and North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

BHP Billiton is a global diversified resources company. It has an ASX Dual Listed Company structure comprising BHP Billiton Limited, which is located in Melbourne, Australia, and BHP Billiton Plc, located in London, United Kingdom. The two entities exist as separate companies but operate as a combined group known as BHP Billiton. Its business model is based on commodity groupings called Businesses. These Businesses are: petroleum and potash; copper (mining of copper, silver, lead, zinc,molybdenum, uranium and gold); iron ore; coal; and aluminium, manganese and nickel.

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.