# C_2009276EN.01004001.xml

| 17.11.2009 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 276/40 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

17.11.2009

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 276/40

---

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.5686 — Vitol Holding/Petroplus Refining Antwerp/Petroplus Refining Antwerp Bitumen)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

2009/C 276/08

| 1. | On 9 November 2009, 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 Eurotank Belgium B.V. (‘Eurotank’, Belgium), ultimately controlled by Vitol Holding B.V. (‘Vitol’, Netherlands), acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertakings Petroplus Refining Antwerp N.V. (‘Petroplus’, Belgium) and Petroplus Refining Antwerp Bitumen N.V. (‘Petroplus Bitumen’, Belgium) by way of purchase of shares. |
| --- | --- |

1.

On 9 November 2009, 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 Eurotank Belgium B.V. (‘Eurotank’, Belgium), ultimately controlled by Vitol Holding B.V. (‘Vitol’, Netherlands), acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertakings Petroplus Refining Antwerp N.V. (‘Petroplus’, Belgium) and Petroplus Refining Antwerp Bitumen N.V. (‘Petroplus Bitumen’, Belgium) by way of purchase of shares.

1

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






  — | for Petroplus/Petroplus Bitumen: active in the production of bitumen, gasoil desulphurization and the operation of a storage terminal, |
| --- | --- | --- |

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

for Petroplus/Petroplus Bitumen: active in the production of bitumen, gasoil desulphurization and the operation of a storage terminal,

| — | for Vitol: trade with oil and gas, exploration and production activities in the oil and gas sector, inter alia. |
| --- | --- |

—

for Vitol: trade with oil and gas, exploration and production activities in the oil and gas sector, inter alia.

| 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. |
| --- | --- |

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.

2

| 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 or 22967244) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.5686 — Vitol Holding/Petroplus Refining Antwerp/Petroplus Refining Antwerp Bitumen, to the following address:





  European Commission |
| --- | --- |
| 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 or 22967244) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.5686 — Vitol Holding/Petroplus Refining Antwerp/Petroplus Refining Antwerp Bitumen, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

---

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

1

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

2

---