percentage and to acquire additional rights, which enable joint control
over Behr.
Parties to the Transaction
Mahle is active world-wide in the development, manufacturing and
sale of components and systems for automotive and motor vehicles.
Mahle ranks among the top systems suppliers worldwide for piston
systems, cylinder components, as well as valve train, air management,
and liquid management systems.
Mahle is active in Turkey through its subsidiaries Mahle Farpias
Filtre Sistemleri A.Ş., Mahle Mopisan Konya A.Ş. and Mahle Mopisan
Izmir A.Ş.
Behr manufactures and supplies original equipment for passenger
and commercial vehicles, in particular components and complete sys-
tems of motor cooling and air-conditioning in automotive industry.
Behr is currently owned and controlled by the Behr family, who is the
main shareholder. Mahle has a minority shareholding in Behr.
Behr has been operating its business activities in Turkey through
Kale Behr Otomotiv Sanayi ve Tic. A.Ş.
Relevant Market
Affected Market.
Taking into consideration the activities of trans-
action parties, the Board determined that there are two different affect-
ed markets: The horizontal affected market and the vertical affected
market. The Board defined the horizontal affected market as “the oil
heat exchangers market developed, produced or sold for high way
vehicles”. The Board evaluated the supply relations between the trans-
action parties as a vertical relation and concluded that vertical affected
market is “the oil filters, heat exchangers, thermostats, and cabin air fil-
ters market”. Indeed, thermostats and oil-water heat exchangers pro-
duced by Behr are inputs of oil filter modules produced by Mahle.
Relevant Geographical Market.
The Board determined the rele-
vant geographical market as “Turkey” by taking into account the
homogenous nature of the sales conditions of the products in affected
markets.
COMPETITION LAW
159