Press Release: Mergers: Commission opens in-depth inquiry into acquisition of joint control by Belgian cargo handling company Sea-Invest in Dutch competitor EMO-EKOM

The European Commission on 31 March 2006 opened a detailed investigation under the EU Merger Regulation into Sea-Invest’s acquisition of joint control in EMO-EKOM. Both companies were cargo-handling companies mainly active in the loading, unloading and storage of iron ore and coal. The Commission’s initial market investigation had found that the proposed transaction gave rise to competition concerns on the market for coal and iron ore terminal services at the ports of Antwerp, Rotterdam and Amsterdam, including Zeeland, the so called ARA range.

European Commission: DG Competition: Merger cases: M.3848 http://ec.europa.eu/comm/competition/mergers/cases/index/m76.html#m_3848

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