The Official Journal of the European Union published on July 3rd the announce for the notification of the proposed operation by which British Barclays and Swiss Credit Suiss would take control over Swiss SSCP Coatings SARL (Ionbond Group). Commission opens a ten days period for interested parties to present their observations.

On June 28th 2010, the Commission received the notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) Nº 139/2004 by which the British company Barclays Plc and Swiss Credit Suisse Group AG would acquire joint control within the meaning of Merger Regulation joint control of the whole of the Swiss undertaking SSCP Coatings SARL (“Ionbond Group”) by way purchase of shares.

Barclays, Credit Suisse and Ionbond Group main activities

• Barclays (LON:BARC): global financial services providing, retail and commercial banking, credit cards, investment banking, wealth management and investment management services.
• Credit Suisse (NYSE:CS): global financial services providing, retail and commercial banking, wealth management, investment banking and asset management.
• Ionbond Group: surface treatment of mainly metal parts with the aim of improving certain of their properties, such as controlling the friction and wear of a component, improving resistance against corrosion, changing its physical properties etc.

The Commission has not found any reason for which this operation could not fall within the scope of the EC Merger Regulation but still reserves its final decision and points out that following the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under the EC Merger Regulation this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication.

Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (+32 22964301), by email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.5896 — Barclays/Credit Suisse/Ionbond Group, to the following address:

European Commission
Directorate-General for Competition
Merger Registry
J-70
1049 Bruxelles/Brussel
BELGIQUE/BELGIË