EU clears part of Univar’s acquisition of Eurochem

19 July 2010 13:18  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS news)--The European Commission has approved Univar's proposed acquisition of Eurochem's chemical distribution activities in Belgium and the Netherlands, the EU's executive body said on Monday.

The Commission found that US-based global chemical distributor Univar's acquisition of Eurochem's Belgian and Dutch business activities would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA).

Eurochem is also known as Quaron.

However, the Commission has referred part of the proposed acquisition relating to Eurochem's activities in France to that country's competition authority.

“After a preliminary investigation, the Commission found that this part of the proposed transaction would threaten to significantly affect competition in the distribution of chemicals in France,” the European Commission said in a press release.

The Commission said the merger would lead to a reduction of national players in France's commodity distribution market, from three to two, and would remove a significant competitive constraint on Univar and its main competitor, Brenntag, the Commission added.

Univar first agreed to acquire all of Eurochem's shares on 5 February.

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By: Franco Capaldo
+44 (0)20 8652 3214

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