RNS Number:2901P
Office of Fair Trading
02 September 2003


Merger Clearance:

The OFT has decided, on the information currently available to it, not to refer
the following merger to the Competition Commission under the provisions of the
Enterprise Act 2002:

Anticipated acquisition by Assa Abloy AB of the European Security Hardware
Business of Black and Decker Corporation

The text of this decision will be placed on the Office of Fair Trading's web
site at www.oft.gov.uk and will also appear in the Office's Weekly Gazette and
Competition Bulletin as soon as is reasonably practicable.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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