IP/10/1625
Brussels, 30 November 2010
Mergers: Commission approves acquisition of Impress by Ardagh
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Impress Coöperatieve U.A., the Dutch manufacturer of metal packaging products, by Ardagh Glass Group SA, headquartered in Luxembourg. 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.
Ardagh is active in the supply of glass containers, including glass bottles and jars, as well as forming and inspecting machines for glass containers. Impress supplies metal packaging products, including metal cans, mainly destined for processed food and specialties (aerosols, paintings & coatings, dairy and custom), but not beverage cans.
The proposed transaction will allow Ardagh to expand its business into the manufacture of metal packaging, and thereby diversify its product offering.
The Commission’s examination of the proposed transaction showed that there are no horizontal overlaps between the activities of Ardagh and Impress. The Commission also investigated the effects of Ardagh's enlarged product range and concluded that anticompetitive conglomerate effects would be unlikely, because of the presence of alternative and competing sources of supply for both glass packaging and metal cans.
The transaction was notified to the Commission on 26 October 2010. More information on the case will be available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/competition/elojade/isef/case_details.cfm?proc_code=2_M_6025
