# C_2004191EN.01000501.xml

| 27.7.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 191/5 |
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27.7.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 191/5

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case No COMP/M.3510 — SHELL/SAUDI ARAMCO/SHOWA SHELL)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2004/C 191/03)

(Text with EEA relevance)

| 1. | On 19 July 2004, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Saudi Arabian Oil Company (‘Saudi Aramco’), Saudi Arabia acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. (‘Showa Shell’) Japan by way of purchase of shares from Royal Dutch/Shell Group (‘Shell’ UK) who will also acquire joint control. |
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1.

On 19 July 2004, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Saudi Arabian Oil Company (‘Saudi Aramco’), Saudi Arabia acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. (‘Showa Shell’) Japan by way of purchase of shares from Royal Dutch/Shell Group (‘Shell’ UK) who will also acquire joint control.

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






  — | for Saudi Aramco: exploration, production and marketing of crude oil and refined oil products, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for Saudi Aramco: exploration, production and marketing of crude oil and refined oil products,

| — | for Showa Shell: refining of crude oil and the distribution and sale of refined oil products, |
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for Showa Shell: refining of crude oil and the distribution and sale of refined oil products,

| — | for Shell: exploration, production and sale of oil and natural gas, the production and sale of chemicals, power generation and the production of energy from renewable sources. |
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for Shell: exploration, production and sale of oil and natural gas, the production and sale of chemicals, power generation and the production of energy from renewable sources.

| 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 (EEC) No 4064/89 (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 (EEC) No 4064/89 (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 (fax No +32/2/2964301 or 2967244) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.3510 — SHELL/SAUDI ARAMCO/SHOWA SHELL, 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 (fax No +32/2/2964301 or 2967244) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.3510 — SHELL/SAUDI ARAMCO/SHOWA SHELL, 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 217, 29.7.2000, p. 32; Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 has been replaced by Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004.

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