Press Release: Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of Rautaruukki by rival SSAB, subject to conditions

The European Commission on 14 July 2014, cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Rautaruukki ('Ruukki') of Finland by rival SSAB of Sweden. Both companies produce and distribute carbon steel and steel construction products.

The clearance is conditional on the divestment of five businesses in Finland, Sweden and Norway. The Commission had concerns that the merger, as initially notified, would have significantly reduced competition on the markets for certain carbon steel products in the Nordic countries, as well as for stainless steel and profiled steel construction sheets in Finland. The divestments address these concerns.