Merger Control

• Representing Honeywell International Inc. in obtaining merger control clearance in the EU, US, China and a number of other antitrust authorities around the world of its US $5.1 billion acquisition of the Elster Division of Melrose Industries plc.
• Representing Honeywell International Inc. in securing the EC approval of Honeywell as the suitable buyer of the Sigma’s laboratory chemicals business, divested by Sigma as part of the EC approval of the Merck/Sigma transaction, and in obtaining merger control clearances from various national competition authorities.
• Representing Norsk Hydro ASA in obtaining merger control clearance in the EU for the creation of a JV with Orkla ASA’s subsidiary SAPA Holding AB, operating in the soft alloy extrusion market.
• Representing Honeywell International Inc. in obtaining merger control clearance in the EU for its acquisition of Intermec, a leading provider of mobile computing and handheld scanning technologies.
• Representing Precision Castparts Corp. in obtaining merger control clearance in the EU for its $2.9 billion acquisition of NYSE-listed titanium alloy maker Timet.
• Representing Norsk Hydro ASA in obtaining merger control clearances in the EU and US for the merger of its oil and gas activities with Statoil ASA -- a US$30 billion deal creating one of the largest offshore oil and gas operators in the world.
• Representing Advanced Micro Devices in its deal with Advanced Technology Investment Co. and Mubadala Development Co. of Abu Dhabi to create Global Foundries.
• Representing Norsk Hydro ASA in obtaining unconditional phase II clearance in relation to its US$1 billion sale of Kerling AS to UK-based INEOS, as well as in one of the very few “gun-jumping” investigations ever carried out by the EC.
• Representing Honeywell International Inc. in securing merger control clearances for its US$1.4 billion public takeover of French listed firm Sperian Protection and its earlier US$2.4 billion acquisition of British industrial holding company Novar plc.
• Successfully representing Honeywell International Inc. in various other acquisitions, including: Hand Held Products, Metrologic, Maxon Corp., UOP LLC, First Technology plc, Gardiner Groupe Europe, Zellweger Analytics, and RMG Regel + Messtechnik GmbH.
• Advising on antitrust issues related to the Government of Singapore Investment Corp. Pte Ltd.’s consortium bid of £10.3 billion/US$18.5 billion for BAA Plc, the world’s largest airport operator.

Cartels

• Obtaining the acquittal of Firma Léon van Parys, the European importer of “Bonita” bananas, of all charges in the EC banana cartel investigation in the Northern European markets following dawn raids in 2005 and extensive follow-up inquiries prior to the issuance of formal charges in mid 2007.
• Representing a client in the GFU price fixing and market sharing case where the Commission closed the investigation against our client without imposing sanctions, while negotiating settlement with several other companies involved in the investigation.
• Representing a client in the industrial gases price fixing and market sharing case, in which the Commission closed the investigation against our client without imposing sanctions, while proceeding to impose fines against other companies involved.
• Representing a client in the PVC II price fixing case, in which the Commission closed the investigation without imposing any sanctions.
• Representing a client in the UK freight surcharges (ferries) price fixing matter, in which the Commission closed the investigation without imposing sanctions.

Abuse of Dominance

• Representing Advanced Micro Devices in its Article 102 complaint against Intel, in which the European Commission recently fined Intel a record €1.06 billion (US$1.44 billion) for its anti-competitive practices. This is the largest ever fine imposed by an antitrust regulator.
• Representing Honeywell International Inc. in the successful defense of a complaint relating to alleged abuses of a dominant position.

Energy Sector Experience

• In addition to the Statoil/Norsk Hydro merger listed above, Riccardo has been involved in a number of other energy sector cases, which is an area he knows well. Examples of energy experience include the advice in the Commission’s current cartel investigation relating to the Platt’s oil index, advice of JVs set up to build an LNG facility including the off-take solutions in Europe, contracts for LNG terminal services in Europe, the establishment and sale of power generators, long-term natural gas supply arrangements, and the Commission’s investigation into an alleged cartel for the sale of upstream Norwegian gas. He has also advised on a number of merger cases in the energy sector, including EU merger filings for Norsk Hydro/Wingas and ENI/Fortum Norway.