Memo: Mergers: Commission has carried out inspections in the S PVC sector

The European Commission can confirm that on 12 and 13 December 2007 Commission officials carried out unannounced inspections under the Article 13 of the Merger Regulation at the premises of two S PVC producers in the UK. The Commission has reasons to believe that the companies concerned may have violated Article 7(1) of Merger Regulation whereby a proposed concentration between undertakings cannot be implemented prior to the Commission's clearance decision. The information exchanged between undertakings prior to any clearance decision may at the same time be contrary to EC Treaty rules on cartels and restrictive business practices (Article 81).