Commission authorises acquisition of Sogerail (France) by British Steel (UK)

• Jurisdiction: Ireland
• Judgment Date: 03 August 1999
• Date: 03 August 1999
• Docket Number: 99/614 of 4 August 1999
• Court: Competition Authority (Ireland)

COMPETITION AUTHORITY

99/614 of 4 August 1999

Commission authorises acquisition of Sogerail (France) by British Steel (UK)

Steel - ECSC - rails -

The European Commission has authorised the acquisition of Sogerail by British Steel, an operation which will make British Steel the largest producer of rails in the European Union.

1 British Steel plc is already a major integrated steel maker with production facilities in Europe and in the USA. It produces a wide variety of hot and cold rolled steel products, including rails for public transport. The company being acquired, the French rail producer Sogerail, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Usinor, and is one of largest European rail producers.

2 After the acquisition, British Steel will have a share of about 30% of the European Economic Area rail market. However, it will face competition from other...