Press Release: Mergers: Commission authorises creation of joint venture for lactose between Campina and Fonterra

The European Commission on 2 June 2006 cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed joint venture between Campina of The Netherlands and Fonterra of New Zealand, both active in dairy products. Campina and Fonterra were planning to combine their respective pharmaceutical and fine chemical lactose activities. The Commission concluded that the proposed transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area ('EEA') or a substantial part of it.