23/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 23 December, the European Commission authorised merger plans whereby Evonik Power Minerals GmbH (EPM, Germany) [which belongs to the group Evonik Industries AG] and Hargreaves Services Plc (HS, United Kingdom) [which belongs to the Hargreaves Group] which to take joint control of Evonik Hargreaves Ltd. (United Kingdom) by share purchase in a newly created company constituting a joint venture. The activities of the companies in question are as follows: - EPM GmbH: waste management service provider and seller of products produced from the combustion of coal in coal-fired electricity power stations; - HS: importation, waste management, transport and mining in the United Kingdom. (O.L./trans.fl)