NORSK HYDRO/ENICHEM
PRESS RELEASE
The Italian Competition Authority points out that the acquisition by the Norwegian group Norsk Idro of Enichem's activities dealing with chemical fertilizers falls within the responsibility of the Commission of the European Communities, given that under European Regulation no. 4064/89 the gross turnover of the companies involved exceed the Community thresholds.
In the case of a notice filed by a competition Authority of a Member State concerning a merger which falls within the responsibility of the Commission, the Commission itself has the right to remand the analysis of the operation to the same State Authority, which will evaluate it on the basis of the national antitrust legislation.
With regards to the acquisition by Norsk Idro of Enichem's activities dealing with chemical fertilizers, since the Commission has ascertained that the markets involved have Community dimension, the conditions which could trigger the application of Law 287/90 are not met and, as such, the case will not be remanded to the Italian Competition Authority.