Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.8333 — Mitsui Group/NS Group/Anglia Rail Holdings) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance. )
Date: 2017-02-14
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: economic concentration, merger control, rail transport, transport company








C_2017047EN.01000401.xml










14.2.2017   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 47/4





Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.8333 — Mitsui Group/NS Group/Anglia Rail Holdings)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2017/C 47/05)






1.


On 6 February 2017, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertakings Mitsui & Co., Ltd (‘Mitsui Tokyo’, Japan) and Abellio Transport Group Limited (‘Abellio’, United Kingdom) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the whole of Anglia Rail Holdings Limited (‘Anglia’, United Kingdom), by way of purchase of shares.










2.


The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:






—


Mitsui Tokyo it is a major Japanese trading house engaged in a number of worldwide commodity and other businesses, including the sale, distribution, purchase, marketing and supply of products in business areas such as: iron and steel; coal and non-ferrous metals; machinery; electronics; chemicals; energy-related commodities; logistics and investing in infrastructure projects. Mitsui Tokyo has global operations in 66 countries and in diverse markets. Mitsui Tokyo will acquire control over Anglia directly and indirectly via Mitsui & Co. Europe Plc, its wholly owned subsidiary. Mitsui Europe manages Mitsui Tokyo’s overall business activities in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Its principal activities include product sales, worldwide logistics and financing, development of major international infrastructure and other projects in the following fields: metals, machinery and infrastructure, chemicals, energy, lifestyle, innovation and corporate development.










—


Abellio is wholly owned by Abellio Transport Holding B.V., the parent company of which is NS Group, which is a major rail operator in The Netherlands. Abellio is established to tender for and commercially operate a number of passenger railway concessions or franchise contracts mainly outside of The Netherlands, including in the UK and Germany.










—


Anglia’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Abellio East Anglia Limited, is the train operating company established to operate the East Anglia Franchise in the UK for the Abellio/NS Group.














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 this Notice.










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 M.8333 — Mitsui Group/NS Group/Anglia Rail Holdings, 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 (the ‘Merger Regulation’).

(2)  OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.