Proposed Merger between Air Liquide Electronics U.S. LP and Chemical Management Division of Edwards Vacuum Inc.

Reference: 100/1302/08
Notifying Parties: Air Liquide Electronics U.S. LP and Edwards Vacuum Inc.
Notifying Date: 30 May 2008
Summary of transaction:

PART 5
INFORMATION FOR THE CCS PUBLIC REGISTER
(TO BE COMPLETED BY THE APPLICANT(S))

1. The Applicants

This notification is made jointly by the acquiring party Air Liquide Electronics U.S. LP (“Air Liquide”), a Delaware limited partnership and the vendor, Edwards Vacuum Inc. (“Edwards”), a Delaware coporation.

2. Description of the proposed merger

This notification is in relation to the acquisition by Air Liquide of certain assets of Edwards, which assets constitutes the Chemical Management Division of Edwards (“Edwards CMD”), together with the business of Edwards CMD, by way of an asset purchase agreement.

3. Applicants’ competitive assessment of the proposed merger

Air Liquide and Edwards are of the view that given the strong competitive nature of the market, multitude of global competitors, and strong countervailing buyer power, the merger, when carried into effect, is unlikely to result in a substantial lessening of competition in the reportable markets.

4. Relevant product and geographic markets involved

The relevant product markets are the markets for:
(i) Provision and installation of chemical management equipment, and
(ii) Provision of other services (including after-sales servicing, operation and maintenance) of such equipment.

The relevant geographic markets are the worldwide markets for the relevant products .

Decision: The proposed merger, if carried into effect, will not infringe the section 54 prohibition.
Decision Date: 8 July 2008
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