25.1.2000 Official Journal of the European Communities L 20/1 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 9 March 1999 relating to a proceeding under Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 (Case IV/M.1313 — Danish Crown/Vestjyske Slagterier) (notified under document number C(1999) 560) (Only the English text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2000/42/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, and in particular Article 57(2)(a) thereof, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 of 21 December 1989 on the control of concentrations between undertakings (*), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1310/ 1997 (3, and in particular Article 8(2) thereof, Having regard to the Commission decision of 6 November 1998 to initiate proceedings in this case, Having given the undertakings concerned the opportunity to make known their views on the objections of the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the Advisory Committee on Concentrations (%), Whereas: L) OJ L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 1; corrigendum: OJ L 257, 21.9.1990, p. 13. () OJ L 180, 9.7.1997, p. 1. () OJ C 21, 25.1.2000. (1) On 5 October 1998, the Commission received a notification of a concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 (the Merger Regulation) consisting of the merger of the Danish cooperatives Slagteriselskabet Danish Crown AmbA (Danish Crown) and Vestjyske Slagterier A.m.b.A. (Vestjyske Slagterier). By decision dated 6 November 1998, the Commission found that the notified operation raised serious doubts as to its compatibility with the common market. The Commission accordingly initiated proceedings in this case pursuant to Article 6(1)(c) of the Merger Regulation. I. THE PARTIES Danish Crown 1is the largest Danish cooperative slaughterhouse and has 13 122 members (farmers) who supply raw materials (pigs and cattle) to the cooperative. Danish Crown is vertically integrated in slaughtering, meat processing and meat trading. Its main activities in the Community are in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Denmark and Italy. Vestjyske Slagterier is the second largest Danish cooperative slaughterhouse and has 17 722 members (farmers) who supply raw materials (pigs and cattle) to