# C_2015415EN.01004001.xml

| 15.12.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 415/40 |
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15.12.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 415/40

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7879 — Saudi Aramco/Lanxess/JV)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 415/12)

| 1. | On 4 December 2015, 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 Aramco Overseas Company, BV (‘AOC’, the Netherlands), a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Arabian Oil Company (‘Saudi Aramco’, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and Lanxess Deutschland GmbH (‘Lanxess’, Germany) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of a newly established joint venture company (‘JV’) by way of purchase of shares and transfer of assets. |
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1.

On 4 December 2015, 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 Aramco Overseas Company, BV (‘AOC’, the Netherlands), a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Arabian Oil Company (‘Saudi Aramco’, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and Lanxess Deutschland GmbH (‘Lanxess’, Germany) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of a newly established joint venture company (‘JV’) by way of purchase of shares and transfer of assets.

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






  — | Saudi Aramco is engaged in the exploration, production and marketing of crude oil and refined products. It also has supporting activities in marine transportation, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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Saudi Aramco is engaged in the exploration, production and marketing of crude oil and refined products. It also has supporting activities in marine transportation,

| — | AOC provides Saudi Aramco with support services and it is active within the purchasing and logistics market and the inspection, engineering, research and technology, IT, finance, legal, public relations, HR, international staffing and executive services, |
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AOC provides Saudi Aramco with support services and it is active within the purchasing and logistics market and the inspection, engineering, research and technology, IT, finance, legal, public relations, HR, international staffing and executive services,

| — | Lanxess is a specialty chemicals company operating on a global basis. Its core business comprises the development, manufacture and sale of plastics, rubber, specialty chemicals and intermediates. |
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Lanxess is a specialty chemicals company operating on a global basis. Its core business comprises the development, manufacture and sale of plastics, rubber, specialty chemicals and intermediates.

| — | The JV will be active in the production and the supply of synthetic rubber products worldwide. |
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The JV will be active in the production and the supply of synthetic rubber products worldwide.

| 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.7879 — Saudi Aramco/Lanxess/JV, 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.7879 — Saudi Aramco/Lanxess/JV, 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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