07/07/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 4 July, the European Commission authorised the plans of the French group Eramet SA to acquire the Norwegian company Tinfos A/S Metal Business. The notification concerned the acquisition of Tinfos assets in the production and distribution of manganese, alloys and nickel, and in the sales of raw materials (Tinfos's activities in the Hydro electricity sector are excluded from the operation). The activities of the parties overlap on the market for the production and distribution of manganese alloys, particularly those used for metallurgical applications, especially the production of steel. However, the Commission's investigation revealed that the share of this cumulative market of the parties is 7% globally and less than 20% in the European Economic Area, and furthermore faces considerable competition. The vertical overlap, with the steel production sector, would be minimal. The Commission therefore gave its green light to the operation. (C.D./trans.fl)