23.3.2016   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 108/16

1.

On 16 March 2016 the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertakings NV Bekaert SA (‘Bekaert’, Belgium) and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board (‘OTPP’, Canada) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of Bridon Bekaert Ropes, by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for Bekaert: steel wire transformation and coatings;

—   for OTPP: administration of pension benefits and investing pension plan assets on behalf of active and retired teachers in the Canadian province of Ontario; OTPP has investments in a variety of companies worldwide, including Bridon International Ltd (‘Bridon’, UK), a global producer of wire rope and synthetic rope;

—   for Bridon Bekaert Ropes: will consist of Bekaert’s and OTPP’s respective wire rope (and certain related) businesses.

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

4.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (+32 22964301), by e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.7904 — Bekaert/OTPP/Bridon Bekaert Ropes JV, to the following address: