Lonza Group / Arch Chemicals

OFT closed case: Anticipated acquisition by Lonza Group Limited of Arch Chemicals, Inc.

• From: Competition and Markets Authority
• Published: 22 September 2011

• Case type: Mergers
• Case state: Closed
• Market sector: Chemicals
• Outcome: Mergers - phase 1 found not to qualify
• Closed: 22 September 2011

Affected market: Biocides

No. ME/5175/11

Found not to qualify.

1. The OFT sent an enquiry letter to the parties on 4 August 2011.The parties responded to the OFT's information request on 19 August 2011.The administrative deadline for the OFT to decide whether to refer the merger to the Competition Commission is 17 October 2011.
2. On the basis of the information available to it, the Office of Fair Trading has decided that the anticipated acquisition of Arch Chemicals, Inc. by Lonza Group Ltd does not qualify for investigation under the mergers provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002 (the Act), because neither the UK turnover test nor the share of supply test in section 23 of the Act is met. A relevant merger situation has, therefore, not been created.

Published 22 September 2011