Decision Nº M/04/035 from Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, 2004-07-02

• Jurisdiction: Ireland
• Parties: Axxicon,Gilde Participaties
• Submitted Date: 14 June 2004
• Date: 02 July 2004
• Decision Date: 02 July 2004
• Status: Preliminary investigation (Phase 1)
• Court: Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (Ireland)
• Decision Number: M/04/035

1

Determination No. M/04/035 of the Competition Authority, dated

2nd July 2004, under Section 21 of the Competition Act, 2002

Notification No. M/04/035 – Proposed acquisition by Gilde

Participaties BV of Axxicon Mould Technology BV

Introduction

1. On 14th June 2004 the Competition Authority, in accordance with

Section 18 (1) of the Competition Act, 2002 (“the Act”) was notified,

on a mandatory basis, of a proposal whereby Gilde Participaties BV

(“Gilde”) would acquire – through a holding company - 72.5% of

Axxicon Mould Technology BV (“Axxicon”), the remaining 27.5% of

which would be held by the current management of Axxicon.

The Parties

2. Gilde is an investment management company which is 95% owned by

Rabobank Nederland. The latter carries on business in Ireland

through, inter alia, its ownership of ACC Bank. Gilde itself does not

carry on business in Ireland.

3. Axxicon is a world leader in industrial engineered mould solutions.

These include standardised moulds, such as those for the production

of plastic products, and customer specified moulds, which are

customised moulds meeting a customer’s unique demands. Axxicon

had a turnover in Ireland of €[0 – 1m] for its most recent financial

year.

Analysis

4. There is no competitive overlap in the activities of the parties in the

State or elsewhere and therefore the transaction does not give rise to

competition concerns.