The Turkish Competition Authority approves the transaction concerning the indirect acquisition of control over a coal and steel company and its business unit for the distribution of steel pipes via a transfer of shares (Van Leeuwen / Benteler)

This case summary concerns an analysis of the Turkish Competition Board’s (“Board”) Van Leeuwen/Benteler decision, in which the Board evaluated the acquisition of sole control over Benteler International Aktiengesellschaft’s (“ Benteler ”) business unit for the distribution of steel pipes (“ Target Companies ”) by Van Leeuwen Buizen Groep B.V. (“ Van Leeuwen ”) through serial transactions. The Board unconditionally approved the notified transaction following its analysis, concluding that the transaction would not result in the creation or strengthening of a dominant position in any product markets in Turkey, and, in any case, it would not have any appreciable effect or likelihood to impede competition in any product markets in Turkey. Background The Board initially evaluated the share