The German concern Petro Carbo Chem will be able to take over control of the Nitrogen Plants in Tarnów and Kędzierzyn-Koźle provided that it sells part of the assets by 31 October 2008

In May this year the German PCC applied to UOKiK for approval to to acquire 80% of the Tarnów and Kędzierzyn-Koźle Nitrogen Plants shares, thus taking over direct control of the companies.

As the total turnover of the transaction participants exceeded 50 million euro, it required an approval from the the President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection.

PCC operates in the chemical and energy sectors. In the course of the proceedings the President of UOKiK concluded that PCC’s taking control over the Tarnów plant may cause a serious competition restriction in the market of sodium oxochlorite, a compound used mainly in the chemical, paper and textile industries as a disinfectant and bleaching agent. For this reason, the President of UOKiK issued a conditional appoval.

According to the decision, PCC must sell, by 31 October 2008 at the latest, the sodium electrolysis plant, now a part of the Tarnów Nitrogen Plant, to an operator independent of PCC. The President of UOKiK also obliged the concern to inform UOKiK on the requirement’s completion within concrete deeadlines.

Additional information:
Elżbieta Anders, Spokesperson of UOKiK
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warszawa
Tel. (+48 22) 827 28 92, 55 60 106, 55 60 314
faks (+48 22) 826 11 86
E-mail eanders@uokik.gov.pl