# C_2015086EN.01001501.xml

| 13.3.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 86/15 |
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13.3.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 86/15

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7422 — Riverstone/Barclays/Origo)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 86/08)

| 1. | On 6 March 2015, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Riverstone Holdings LLC (‘Riverstone’, UK) and Barclays Bank plc (‘Barclays’, UK) will acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and Article 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control by way of purchase of shares in a newly-created company constituting a joint venture Origo Exploration AS (‘Origo’, Norway). |
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1.

On 6 March 2015, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Riverstone Holdings LLC (‘Riverstone’, UK) and Barclays Bank plc (‘Barclays’, UK) will acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and Article 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control by way of purchase of shares in a newly-created company constituting a joint venture Origo Exploration AS (‘Origo’, Norway).

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   Riverstone: private equity firm focused on investments in the energy and power sectors,
  —   Barclays: global financial services provider engaged in personal banking, credit cards, corporate and investment banking and wealth and investment management services,
  —   Origo: newly-established company, which will be engaged in oil and gas exploration and production activities on the Norwegian and United Kingdom continental shelves. |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   Riverstone: private equity firm focused on investments in the energy and power sectors,

Riverstone

—   Barclays: global financial services provider engaged in personal banking, credit cards, corporate and investment banking and wealth and investment management services,

Barclays

—   Origo: newly-established company, which will be engaged in oil and gas exploration and production activities on the Norwegian and United Kingdom continental shelves.

Origo

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation. 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 this Notice. |
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3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation. 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 this 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 (+32 22964301), by email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.7422 — Riverstone/Barclays/Origo, to the following address:





  European Commission |
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| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel |
| BELGIQUE/BELGIË |

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 (+32 22964301), by email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.7422 — Riverstone/Barclays/Origo, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

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(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘Merger Regulation’).

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(2)  OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.

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