Press Release: Mergers: Commission clears the acquisition of Schils by Van Drie

The European Commission on 9 December 2004 approved under the EU Merger Regulation the acquisition by Van Drie, a Dutch company specialised in calf and veal production of Schils, another Dutch group mainly active in dry dairy products. Van Drie has relatively strong positions in certain market segments, such as slaughtering of calves and the veal wholesale market, whilst Schils is an important player in calf feed production. The Commission investigated the vertical and horizontal aspects of the merger and concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the EEA or any substantial part of it.