Press Release: Mergers: Commission approves acquisition of joint control of OSi Europe Business by GE and Bayer

The European Commission on 5 May 2006 cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of joint control of three current subsidiaries of General Electric (GE) active in the silicone business (together 'OSi Europe Business'), by General Electric Company ('GE') of the US and Bayer AG of Germany. After examining the operation, the Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.