# C_2006142EN.01000401.xml

| 17.6.2006 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 142/4 |
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17.6.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 142/4

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4233 — BP France/Vitogaz/Energaz JV)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2006/C 142/03)

(Text with EEA relevance)

| 1. | On 7 June 2006, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertakings BP France S.A. belonging to the group BP plc (‘BP’, UK) and Vitogaz S.A. (‘Vitogaz’, France) belonging to the Rubis group (‘Rubis’, France) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking Energaz (‘Energaz’, France), by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture. |
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1.

On 7 June 2006, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertakings BP France S.A. belonging to the group BP plc (‘BP’, UK) and Vitogaz S.A. (‘Vitogaz’, France) belonging to the Rubis group (‘Rubis’, France) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking Energaz (‘Energaz’, France), by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture.

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:






  — | for BP: exploration, production and marketing of crude oil and natural gas, oil refining, marketing and transportation, gas, power and renewables; |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for BP: exploration, production and marketing of crude oil and natural gas, oil refining, marketing and transportation, gas, power and renewables;

| — | for Rubis: storage of liquid products, distribution of Liquid Propane Gas (LPG); |
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for Rubis: storage of liquid products, distribution of Liquid Propane Gas (LPG);

| — | for Vitogaz: distributor of butane, propane and autogas; |
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for Vitogaz: distributor of butane, propane and autogas;

| — | for Energaz: retail supply of LPG in cylinders in France. |
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for Energaz: retail supply of LPG in cylinders in France.

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice. |
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3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

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| 4. | The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.
  Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.4233 — BP France/Vitogaz/Energaz JV, to the following address:





  European Commission |
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| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| J-70 |
| B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel |

4.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.4233 — BP France/Vitogaz/Energaz JV, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

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(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

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(2)  OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32.

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