18/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - Mergers: CSN acquires companies in Europe. On 15 July, the European Commission authorised the acquisition by the Brazilian company CSN (mining sector, infrastructure, steel, cement, carbochemistry), of the German steel company Stahlwerk Thüringen GmbH (long and semi-finished products) and of three companies belonging to the Spanish group Grupo Alfonso Gallardo. These are Cementos Balboa (cement), Corrugados Azpeitia (steel semi-finished and long products), Corrugados Lasao (electrically welded steel mesh). The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure. (F.G./transl.fl)