Brussels, 15/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 15 July, the European Commission gave a conditional go-ahead to the acquisition of Rautaruukki (“Ruukki”) of Finland by rival SSAB of Sweden. Both companies produce and distribute carbon steel and steel construction products. The clearance is conditional on the divestment of five businesses in Finland, Sweden and Norway. The Commission had concerns that the merger, as initially notified, would have significantly reduced competition on the markets for certain carbon steel products in the Nordic countries, as well as for stainless steel and profiled steel construction sheets in Finland, and demanded the divestment of five companies in Finland, Sweden and Norway. SSAB has promised to sell half of its stake in two joint Norwegian ventures, its distribution subsidiary and construction company in Finland and a steel service centre in Sweden and a similar centre in Finland. The Commission decided that, in the light of these commitments, the deal no longer poses competition issues. (EL)