# C_2018107EN.01001301.xml

| 22.3.2018 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 107/13 |
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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.8815 — Vapo/OP Financial Group/JV)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2018/C 107/13)

| 1. | On 12 March 2018, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004( 1 ).
This notification concerns the following undertakings:
—
Vapo Oy (‘Vapo’) (Finland), —
OP Financial Group (Finland). Vapo and OP Financial Group acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of Vapo Lämpövoima Ky.
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture. | — | Vapo Oy (‘Vapo’) (Finland), | — | OP Financial Group (Finland). |
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| — | Vapo Oy (‘Vapo’) (Finland), | | | | |
| — | OP Financial Group (Finland). | | | | |

| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
—
Vapo is a supplier and developer of bioenergy in Finland, Sweden and Estonia; —
OP Financial Group is a financial services cooperative group supplying a diversified range of banking, investment and insurance services; —
Vapo Lämpövoima Ky is a newly established joint-venture that will offer power and heat solutions to industrial operators, energy companies and municipalities. | — | Vapo is a supplier and developer of bioenergy in Finland, Sweden and Estonia; | — | OP Financial Group is a financial services cooperative group supplying a diversified range of banking, investment and insurance services; | — | Vapo Lämpövoima Ky is a newly established joint-venture that will offer power and heat solutions to industrial operators, energy companies and municipalities. |
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| — | Vapo is a supplier and developer of bioenergy in Finland, Sweden and Estonia; | | | | | | |
| — | OP Financial Group is a financial services cooperative group supplying a diversified range of banking, investment and insurance services; | | | | | | |
| — | Vapo Lämpövoima Ky is a newly established joint-venture that will offer power and heat solutions to industrial operators, energy companies and municipalities. | | | | | | |

| 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 the 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. The following reference should always be specified:
M.8815 — Vapo/OP Financial Group/JV
Observations can be sent to the Commission by email, by fax, or by post. Please use the contact details below:
Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu Fax +32 22964301 Postal address: European Commission Directorate-General for Competition Merger Registry 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel BELGIQUE/BELGIË | Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu | Fax +32 22964301 | Postal address: | European Commission | Directorate-General for Competition | Merger Registry | 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel | BELGIQUE/BELGIË |
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| Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu | | | | | | | | | |
| Fax +32 22964301 | | | | | | | | | |
| Postal 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’).

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

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