Fine imposed for violation against prohibition of putting merger into effect

The Bundeskartellamt has imposed fines totalling 65,000 € against Lignum Technologie AG, Schopfloch and a member of management for wilfully violating the prohibition under merger control to put a merger into effect.

Lignum Technologie AG was founded in November 1999 as a holding company, to which the shares of Homag Holzbearbeitungssysteme AG, Schopfloch, were contributed. Subsequently IMA AG, Gütersloh, was merged with Lignum Technologie AG.

The merger, which according to merger control regulations had to be notified to the Bundeskartellamt, was, in the knowledge of this obligation, put into effect without notification and without the necessary merger control clearance in order to avoid any possible prohibition by the Bundeskartellamt at the time. As the market situation on the affected markets for woodworking plant and machinery for the furniture and construction component industry has significantly changed since the merger was put into effect, examination of the case was concluded in September 2003 without prohibition.

The orders to impose the fines are final.