On 28 May 2013, the European Commission announced its decision to approve, subject to conditions, the creation of a joint venture between Norsk Hydro ASA and Sapa Holding AB (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Orkla ASA). The joint venture combines the two largest producers of soft-alloy aluminium extrusions in Europe, including their respective precision tubing and building systems activities, to create the world’s leading aluminium extrusions provider.The Commission concluded that commitments offered by Sapa to divest its extruded tubes plant in the Netherlands, and by Hydro to divest one of its soft-alloy extrusion plants in Norway, were sufficient to address any concerns that it had identified during its Phase I investigation.RBB Economics advised both parties during the course of the Commission’s investigation, working alongside Simmons & Simmons in London and O’Melveny & Myers LLP in Brussels.
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