27.1.2007   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 19/14

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4450 — Umicore/Zinifex/Neptune)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2007/C 19/03)

1.

On 22 January 2007, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Umicore S.A./N.V. (‘UM’, Belgium) and Zinifex Limited (‘ZFX’, Australia) acquire, within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation, joint control of Neptune, a newly created company constituting a joint venture.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

UM: advanced materials, precious metal products and catalysts, precious metal services and zinc specialities;

—

ZFX: zinc and lead mining, the production of zinc and lead concentrate, and zinc smelting, refining and alloying and lead smelting and refining;

—

Neptune: active primarily in zinc smelting, refining and alloying and lead smelting and refining.

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. 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 ((32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.4450 — Umicore/Zinifex/Neptune, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.