commiss decis juli relat proceed articl eec treati iv reuter basf german text authent eec commiss european commun regard treati establish european econom commun articl thereof regard council regul februari articl thereof regard written applic date januari basf ag ludwigshafen made dr gottfri reuter lemförd articl regul heard undertak concern pursuant articl council regul commiss regul eec juli regard opinion deliv advisori committe restrict practic domin posit pursuant articl regul june fact letter date januari dr gottfri reuter lodg complaint commiss articl regul subject complaint contractu competit claus impos purchas basf ag sale elastom group undertak concern manufactur polyurethan transfer agreement conclud june prohibit dr reuter year june carri activ product polyurethan synthet product manufactur wide rang final product number industri includ motor build furnitur footwear synthet leather electr engin insul materi varnish glue shipbuild mechan engin industri market synthet state constant growth rate recent year industri manufactur polyurethan final product stage princip chemic product basic product manufactur polyurethan polyol isocyan import polyol polyeth polyest import isocyan diphenylmethan diisocyan mdi toluylendiisocyan tdi hexamathylen diisocyan hmdi basic product obtain oj oj polyest polyalcohol burandiol hexandiol neopentyl glycol trimethylol propan dicarbon acid caprolactam polyeth propylen propylen oxid isocyan anilin formaldehyd diamin naphtylen diamin hexamethylen diamin basic product made semi finish polyrethan foam plastic compon elastom granul thermoplast process chip prepolym semi finish product turn convert larg number final product vari shape properti soft hard foam plastic varnish solid materi finish compon stage product stage basic materi glycol polyalcohol amin dicarbon acid formaldehyd propylen oxid stage polyest polyeth diisocyan stage semi finish polyurethan product stage final product stage product polyurethan specif manufactur materi produc firm activ polyurethan chemic main method produc polyurethan multi compon system polyest polyeth alcohol combin exact proport diisocyan singl oper carri mean inject pump system develop bayer patent field elastom formul expir compon system polyest polyeth alcohol pre mix diisocyan ad exact proport foam caus mixtur ceas method elastom group main differ method method stage intermedi product process directli final product firm carri stage final process method final processor carri polyurethan product inform commiss final polyurethan product produc multi compon system compon system market structur largest polyurethan chemic supplier common market bayer appli basic materi stage anilin import raw materi manufactur mdi stage bayer manufactur complet rang polyest alcohol polyeth alcohol diisocyan mdi tdi nuclear chain lengthen cross link agent bayer consider strengthen posit stage take compani metzel group number competitor limit basf import supplier common market ici rhône poulenc link bayer progil bayer ugin pari shell link bayer bayer shell isocyan antwerp ugin kuhlmann link basf basf ugin quot euran quot antwerp dow chemic link basf unit state dow badisch union carbid corpor ucc henkel montedison upjohn società italiana resin sir du pont signific common market limit manufactur elastom thread basf major manufactur stage basic materi strengthen posit respect stage combin ugin form euran isocyan polyeth establish expand plant field chain lengthen agent acquir elastom group elastom group import quot system formul quot rank alongsid metzel group recent bayer chief german polyurethan processor elastom group consist compani countri eec feder republ germani branch franc itali unit kingdom total turnov group dm million group concern product distribut polyurethan develop construct plant product polyurethan group import blend polyurethan raw materi stage import increas onward bayer patent blend technolog expir polyurethan processor longer depend bayer influenc basf polyurethan sector question stage acquisit elastom group extend bayer remain market leader transfer undertak dr reuter research chemist special polyurethan held reuter hold gmbh zurich share elastom ag chur switzerland hold compani elastom group compani germani member elastom group elastogran gmbh lemförd hold compani compani base germani provid group main econom strength remain share elastom ag dr reuter held option purchas held investit und handelsbank zurich ihb agreement date march dr reuter basf dr reuter undertook exercis option ihb share transfer share elastom ag acquir basf addit dr reuter grant basf irrevoc option effect januari purchas remain share elastom ag held dr reuter reuter hold option expir june connect option enabl dr reuter acquir share ihb discharg elastom ag oblig basf grant dr reuter loan agreement dr reuter remain manag director elastom group accept restrict activ respect period exercis option inter alia prohibit compet year transfer remain share restrict replac subsequ agreement june pursuant agreement march dr reuter exercis option purchas share ihb transfer basf agreement date june hereinaft refer quot purchas agreement quot dr reuter sold basf remain share elastom ag held reuter hold gmbh agreement basf acquir compani elastom group activ field quot field cover agreement quot quot research develop manufactur distribut chemic product product polyurethan chemic product includ polyest alcohol polyurethan pre mix manufactur polyurethan product includ granul prepolym adduc thermoplast process textil finish polyvinylchlorid solvent paint adhes mould materi exclud research manufactur diisocyan polyetherpolyol deriv semi manufactur product foil sheet extrud product finish product form part product programm lkg kkm ovg compani date agreement product programm includ semi manufactur finish product machin vehicl lift handl transport equip descript addit includ consum product refer annex xi exclud finish assembl polyurethan import compon shock absorb ball joint transmiss gear technolog equip apparatu process product set chain lengthen solvent isocyan catalyst addit product product polyurethan exclud ordinari machin thermoplast materi inject moulder extrus calend machin irrelev intellectu industri properti right exist respect quot compani acquir basf account polyurethan produc capac elastom group includ compani feder republ germani compani involv field remain control dr reuter caf chemi anlagenbau gmbh amp june agreement conclud reuter hold gmbh subsidiari basf glasurit werk winkelmann gmbh hamburg hereinaft refer quot glasurit quot dr reuter parti agreement hereinaft refer quot agreement quot agreement reuter hold transfer technolog relev field glasurit includ detail seri document scientif technic data possess elastom ag dr reuter resign manag group sale restrict continu activ field cover agreement contain claus ix xi set quot claus ix save provid claus contract dr reuter period year sign contract refrain engag directli indirectli activ germani relev field form firm field firm share firm maintain enter contractu associ parti act employe advis similar function appli deal offici trade secur provid dr reuter aim busi activ quot quot claus dr reuter engag busi relev field provid annex ix respect manufactur finish part provid annex respect contract conclud veb synthesewerk schwarzheid dr reuter continu amp activ manufactur process isocyan ployeth polyol commerci result amp issu licenc extend construct manufactur plant hold share compani oper plant process activ agre contract inform glasurit result achiev respect physic separ diisocyan polyisocyan exercis paragraph dr reuter respect legitim interest elastom group subsidiari affili relev field quot quot claus xi dr reuter undertak period year sign contract divulg parti protect unprotect experi relev field event circumst fact relat technic commerci financi staf matter compani elastom group aros contract made relat activ permit claus dr reuter undertak parti access plan plant machineri fall relev field quot annex ix cite claus read quot dr reuter leav elastom group develop plan build factori finish part hold share capit firm own polyurethan substanc factori includ establish manufactur shoe motor vehicl boat prefabr build part furnitur synthet leather film dr reuter respect factori hold share give elastom group prioriti suppli raw materi plant machineri relev field provid price qualiti item competit case elastom group accord dr reuter quot favour firm quot treatment decemb dr reuter pass elastom group exchang suitabl remuner busi relev field busi activ quot annex concern transact german democrat republ meantim complet claus xi interpret basf dr reuter prohibit research licens agreement june made elastogran gmbh part dr reuter caf control part dr reuter perform contract german democrat republ enabl dr reuter busi relev field subject geograph eastern bloc countri tempor limit substanc applic dr reuter object competit claus claus ix contract june argument competit claus threat profession econom livelihood cover area research ident activ elastom group field polyurethan research year profession activ creativ activ field claus upheld lose touch scientif develop special field perman unabl work field claus mean exercis profess claus consider import competit basf intend take elastom group enter group polyurethan field take group elimin competitor competit claus shield competit dr reuter polyurethan market claus exclud opportun allevi depend polyurethan processor bayer stage graver prohibit pass parti need build fulli integr manufactur system competitor bayer basf restrict competit permiss durat year claus accept order safeguard oper group transfer exclud seller competit longer absolut basf dr reuter fulli applic technolog complet word acquir group concern year longest durat accept secur clientel adapt group owner manag custom german firm claus limit germani suffici safeguard group oper extens competit claus countri basf suppli market year durat intend shield competit gener infring articl eec treati justif prohibit research dr reuter make complaint oblig secret area carri research infring oblig pursuant applic commiss investig fact consequ statement object basf answer basf submit stage polyest polyol affect competit claus manufactur sold undertak commun basf name european firm stage produc basf repres sector elastom basf activ field scope competit claus accord wish dr reuter futur area affect claus polyeth polyol isocyan particip oper plant applic technolog field manufactur final product area exclud competit claus claus agreement june unrestrict activ dr reuter largest part polyurethan technolog claus licens agreement june elastogran gmbh part dr reuter caf part dr reuter decemb conclud contract relev field allow perform contract engag busi relev field decemb half year dr reuter accept year prohibit similar scope agreement scope durat restrict poor financi situat elastom group collaps ceas competitor basf rescu take polyurethan produc activ addit purchas price liabil dm million outlai cover asset undertak order enabl basf consolid takeov reorgan firm essenti dr reuter abstain time activ relev field activ part inevit direct custom argument appli restrict research stress essenc transact dr reuter transfer undertak transfer goodwil technic acquir acquir patent entitl sole legitim protect competit basf effect acquir sector market dr reuter longer entitl make technic knowledg transfer specif author research activ relev field involv transfer knowledg econom profit polyurethan research stage close cooper custom custom verifi plant product develop laboratori possess properti need applic make suggest improv commerci research practic test custom product research develop cooper sold precis instruct store process composit secret evid dr reuter earli possess present field applic pass respect blend applic base knowledg transfer undertak sold basf contend dr reuter research carri expert emploi purpos bound pass knowledg commit infring oblig secret exploit relev competit dr reuter relev field restrict lift diminish asset transfer period year fix durat competit claus time need basf familiar polyurethan dr reuter obtain bayer basic materi applic basf receiv bayer suppli basic materi basf acquir effort order real competitor bayer reuter basf elastom preliminari work field rang formul acquir dr reuter core basf polyurethan busi purpos polyurethan research develop kind quot recip book quot mix need field applic recip sensit type easili transmiss competitor custom protect familiar custom requir possibl combin raw materi provid bayer dr reuter posit depriv basf benefit busi expens purchas basf unabl strengthen competit posit adequ past year uncertain year hear dr reuter deni receiv time sale raw materi bayer claim elastom group lai primarili develop independ bayer dr reuter explain field reactiv synthet research constantli carri improv properti raw materi produc necessit process redevelop research intens field develop chemistri quot recip book quot requir revis year repli basf state revis recip book technic conduct gradual step develop improv properti raw materi necessit revis recip produc result improv product revis research provid present futur product market year time ii applic articl eec treati articl prohibit incompat common market agreement undertak affect trade member state object effect prevent restrict distort competit common market agreement june competit claus agreement undertak dr reuter regard undertak purpos articl engag econom activ firm elastom group remain control exploit result research commerci advis parti dr reuter prohibit competit claus claus ix agreement june engag busi supplier servic good relev field compet polyurethan market germani period year conclus agreement june appli form activ includ particip parti undertak partnership advisori similar activ parti prohibit extend research develop manufactur applic sale claus dr reuter person technic knowledg experi engag activ field develop exploit applic process transfer part elastom group acquir basf except made manufactur finish product accord annex ix confin area polyurethan substanc perform contract german democrat republ transit arrang valid decemb limit specif eastern european countri fact licens agreement june perform contract conclud decemb permit decemb negat emphas dr reuter compet eec prevent claus question except made research develop exploit manufactur process isocyan polyeth polyol cover field dr reuter activ stage permit except freedom action dr reuter restrict extent oblig commun result research glasurit gener preserv quot legitim interest quot basf requir effect preclud competit behaviour basf materi asset busi sold protect purchas impos prohibit competit seller present case sale includ goodwil item constitut substanti part asset transfer order determin articl appli competit claus agreement examin claus essenti preserv transfer worth undertak exce preserv recogn case provid safeguard ensur effect perform agreement form contractu competit claus case materi asset undertak commerci goodwil includ relat custom transfer purchas case essenti prevent seller acquir custom directli indirectli cooper purchas competitor period immedi transfer complianc seller competit claus mean respect oblig agreement transfer full undertak applic articl competit claus agreement exclud case make difficult imposs transact gener recogn legitim impli purchas benefit protect limit time goodwil undertak enjoi absolut protect consist pure factual state affair constantli expos attack compet firm protect claim purchas competit activ seller justifi ground seller owner undertak enjoi advantag outsid possess special inform undertak product sale situat make danger competitor protect limit period requir activ competit purchas undiminish undertak market posit time transfer account organiz problem aris newli acquir firm integr purchas undertak group recogn case provid addit safeguard ensur effect perform agreement case technic knowledg constitut import part transfer undertak dispos transfere case goodwil prevent transferr time knowledg manner prevent transfere acquir undertak market posit undiminish protect afford transferr limit time transfer legal unprotect confer exclus right purchas contrari content basf transfer technic connect sale undertak automat preclud activ part seller base opportun unknown competitor goodwil competit advantag advantag diminish develop parti competitor field research unlik parti transferr undertak remain awar content transfer divest knowledg reason appear legitim protect transfere order time enabl acquir undertak competit posit undiminish protect competit posit undertak justif prescrib time limit competit claus involv determin durat competit claus factor account natur transfer opportun knowledg possess purchas reason assum transfere activ exploit asset transfer distinct made exist date transfer develop transferr base connect transfer competit claus extend develop shorter durat respect geograph extent subject matter competit claus normal circumst confin market undertak activ sale regard potenti competitior basi relev demonstr activ regard forego consider commiss find case competit claus greatli exce need secur legitim object agreement secur buyer transfer full commerci transfer undertak time decis mainten claus constitut appreci restrict competit competit claus cover commerci research develop exce limit agre safeguard takeov undertak develop transferr result research stage industri provid breach oblig secreci involv jeopard achiev legitim purpos agreement long transferr exploit result research develop activ compet directli indirectli purchas undertak advers effect undertak market posit acquisit likewis risk custom clear dr reuter lose touch scientif technic progress continu research develop polyurethan constant innov continu research line commun interest maintain genuin competit common market prohibit research develop upheld danger elimin potenti competitor prohibit regard claus ab initio unjustifi safeguard takeov object effect appreci restrict competit competit claus restrict commerci exploit technic knowledg area cover agreement accept extent exploit hinder acquisit transfer asset undertak concern diminish period requir basf incorpor acquir undertak group build clientel basf consid reason justif restrict competit transferr assign compet custom transfer undertak present case consist recip mix polyurethan raw materi adapt type custom hand rememb transfer undertak continu assign reason assum initi period year complet protect quot insid competit quot dr reuter basf make full transfer deal custom ground remain prevent dr reuter mean competit claus enter market competitor develop base transfer respect determin period incorpor transfer undertak evid suggest basf met special difficulti reorgan fulli oper undertak overcom activ manag short time practic arrang custom supplier relationship take polyurethan custom motor vehicl industri basf state suppli contract termin month notic year notic elastom exist custom repeat opportun period year chang supplier chose time regard clientel acquir basf effort sens basf attain market posit undertak longer protect mean competit claus unjustifi custom relationship elastom replac relationship basf account fact field activ transfer undertak wide custom relat easi manag view activ elastom group compris firm extend countri hand basf financi strong multin enterpris internation experienc manag relev experi field activ acquir group undertak concern transfer field note rapid progress polyurethan research constant emerg raw materi produc constant manufactur process continu research effort need accept develop emerg step step process consid period year sum individu step give activ firm consider competit advantag inact firm consid aspect commiss take view spite import acquir goodwil time transfer basf event date decis approxim year takeov special protect competit dr reuter content basf competit claus scope agre parti order protect secreci transfer accept decid term oblig secreci agre parti respect assign compat rule competit treati gener observ made oblig secreci parti affect competit relationship transferr transfere complet compat independ behaviour tranferr field cover agreement present case technic knowledg transfer consist primarili recip polyurethan mix specif adapt custom requir view rapid develop technolog polyurethan chemistri question present time suffici econom justifi continu protect oblig secreci circumst oblig secret parti impos transfer undertak prevent transferr expiri reason term competit claus compet transfere mean develop competit claus long durat justifi high cost incur basf take undertak undertak concern exist liabil affect purchas price prolong time protect need competit dr reuter forego competit claus secur market posit undertak consequ content basf need acquir raw materi dr reuter receiv bayer raw materi longer receiv irrelev involv parti question consid supplier custom relationship bayer base protect restrict competit impos transferr period time longer take effect charg acquir undertak basf statement bayer parti ceas provid accord independ action part dr reuter custom relationship bayer begin subject uncertainti occur subsequ behaviour parti lack protect bayer parti sought compens restrict competit impos transferr call quot peculiar competit threat quot pose unreason establish raw materi constantli chang parti differ view effect quot revis recip book quot continu develop raw materi constitut ey bayer basf develop includ asset transfer firm contribut competit posit time bayer elastom group carri independ research develop respect product stage research develop separ cours follow accept submiss basf basf bayer raw materi bayer continu provid raw materi problem gener aris rapid advanc made polyurethan chemistri protect advanc protect futur activ serv justif prohibit takeov asset complet product facil undertak fulli oper bayer raw materi suppli time clear raw materi concern bayer continu suppli competit claus affect trade member state affect good servic offer dr reuter subject trade member state appli cooper dr reuter undertak commun countri restrict claus undertak supplier competitor common market remain compani reason advisori activ dr reuter act competitor relev european market import relat field polyurethan market stage product transform end user part user accord field amount entir polyurethan market europ dr reuter suppli system field restrict competit remov clear provis applic enabl foam carri local polyurethan inter state trade finish polyurethan foam advantag term reduc transport cost basf stress competit easili affect dr reuter act advis place extens knowledg dispos compet firm system develop dr reuter reduc consider share market present held good foam stage product end product multicompon system polyurethan market substanti continu expand applic polyurethan found restrict competit market effect trade member state appreci iii applic articl eec treati exempt articl consid agreement notifi notifi commiss articl regul agreement exclud activ dr reuter common market relat import export member state articl except set articl appli restrict impos dr reuter assignor appar restrict competit scope prohibit research develop manufactur applic present case contribut promot technic econom progress allow consum fair share result benefit contend light basf financi strength support acquir group compani assumpt basf liabil amount dm million entitl special protect period year restrict competit appreci object advantag offset disadvantag competit relev market iv applic articl council regul articl regul empow commiss find applic initi infring articl eec treati decis requir undertak associ undertak concern bring infring end adopt decis articl claus ix contract sale conclud june dr gottfri reuter gottfri reuter hold gmbh part basf aktiengesellschaft constitut infring articl eec treati articl undertak name articl forthwith bring end infring refer articl articl decis address basf aktiengesellschaft ludwigshafen feder republ germani dr gottfri reuter bergstraß lemförd hannov feder republ germani gottfri reuter hold gmbh zürich switzerland brussel juli commiss thomson member commiss