29/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - Mergers: CD&R/Harsco. On 29 October, the European Commission gave the go-ahead to the acquisition by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Fund IX, L.P., controlled by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (“CD&R”), of control over the Infrastructure Division of Harsco Corporation (“Harsco Infrastructure”) of the United States. Harsco Corporation will retain a minority stake. CD&R is a US-based private equity investment group with international activities in various sectors. Harsco Infrastructure provides construction services, including scaffolding, formwork and shoring services as well as industrial services, primarily in the form of project engineering and equipment rental and installation. Some of CD&R's portfolio companies are purchasing such services. The Commission concluded that the deal notified on 30 September would not raise competition concerns, given the limited market shares of the merged entity. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure. (FG/transl.fl)