Brussels, 13/06/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed joint venture between Sonae Indústria of Portugal and the German company Tarkett, both active in manufacturing and selling of laminate floorings. The proposed concentration would result in Sonae Indústria and Tarkett combining their respective laminate flooring production and sales operations based in Germany and Luxembourg. Sonae Indústria manufactures and sells wood-based panels, chemicals and other value-added products for the wood-based products industry. It belongs to the Sonae conglomerate group, which is engaged in various activities in Portugal. Tarkett is a German company controlled by Tarkett SA, producing and distributing various floor coverings, primary resilient flooring but also hardwood, textile flooring and laminate floorings. The Commission's examination of the proposed transaction showed that that the new entity would continue to face strong, effective competitors, some of them with significant market shares, in a highly fragmented market. The Commission also examined the impact of the proposed transaction on competitors' access to the necessary raw materials to manufacture laminate flooring and concluded that there would be no risk of supplies being closed off.