Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.8400 — Engie Group/SOPER/BPCE Group/LCS4 et LCS du Centre) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance. )
Date: 2017-03-15
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: banking, economic concentration, electrical energy, energy distribution, energy industry, energy production, merger control, wholesale trade








C_2017080EN.01000701.xml










15.3.2017   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 80/7





Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.8400 — Engie Group/SOPER/BPCE Group/LCS4 et LCS du Centre)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2017/C 80/04)






1.


On 3 March 2017, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which La Compagnie du Vent (‘LCV’, France), which is jointly controlled by the Engie Groupe (‘Engie’, France) and SOPER (‘SOPER’, France), and the Groupe Banque Populaire Caisse d’Epargne (‘Groupe BPCE’, France), acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of La Compagnie du Soleil Investissement 4 (LCS4, France) and La Compagnie du Soleil Centre (‘LCS Centre’, France), by way of purchase of shares.










2.


The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
—   for LCV: French undertaking active in the development, construction and operation of wind farms and solar parks as well as in the generation and wholesale of electricity in France. LCV is jointly controlled by the Engie Groupe and SOPER. The Engie Groupe is an integrated energy company active across the energy value chain from the production of gas to the retail sale of gas and from the generation of electricity to the retail sale of electricity. SOPER is a holding company owned by an individual, which has for its sole purpose the holding of its shares in LCV,
—   for BPCE: French bank which through its subsidiary Natixis management is active in wholesale banking, investment banking and financial services,
—   LCS4 and LCS Centre: Solar parks, which are active in the wholesale of electricity in France. LCS4 and LCS centre are currently solely controlled by LCV.










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.8400 — Engie Group/SOPER/BPCE Group/LCS4 et LCS du Centre, 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.