28.2.2002 Official Journal of the European Communities L 5825 II (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 3 May 2000 declaring a concentration to be compatible with the common market and the EEA Agreement (Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89) (Case No COMP/M.1693 — Alcoa/Reynolds) (notified under document number C(2000) 1176) (Only the English text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2002/174[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 thereof, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 of 21 December 1989 on the control of concentrations between undertakings ('), as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 1310/97 of 30 June 1997 (), and in particular Article 8(2) thereof, Having regard to the Commission decision of 20 December 1999 to initiate proceedings in this case, Having given the undertakings concerned the opportunity to make known their views on the objections raised by the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the Advisory Committee on Concentrations (%), Whereas: (1)  On 18 November 1999, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration by which Alcoa Inc. (‘Alcoa’) would acquire control of the undertaking Reynolds Metals Company (Reynolds) and would merge their activities worldwide. (2) By decision dated 20 December 1999, the Commission found that the notified operation raised serious doubts as to its compatibility with the common market and the functioning of the EEA. The Commission accordingly initiated proceedings in this case, pursuant to Article 6(1)(c) of Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Merger Regulation’). I. THE PARTIES AND THE OPERATION (3)  Alcoa is the largest aluminium producer worldwide, and is a US corporation involved in all aspects of the aluminium industry (bauxite mining, alumina refining, aluminium smelting, manufacturing and recycling as well as research and technology). Alcoa has operations in among others, North America, Brazil, Australia, Japan, China and the European Community. O] L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 1; corrected version OJ L 257, 21.9.1990, p. 13. () OJ L 180, 9.7.1997, p. 1. () O] C 342, 5.12.2001.