Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.8739 — Kuraray/PTTGC/Sumitomo/JV) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance. )
Date: 2018-04-30
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: chemical industry, economic concentration, electronics, energy industry, mass media, merger control, metallurgical industry, mineral resources, natural gas, petrochemicals








C_2018151EN.01006201.xml










30.4.2018   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 151/62





Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.8739 — Kuraray/PTTGC/Sumitomo/JV)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2018/C 151/10)






1.


On 23 April 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:






—


Kuraray Co., Ltd (‘Kuraray’, Japan),










—


PTT Global Chemical Public Company Ltd (‘PTTGC’, Thailand),










—


Sumitomo Corporation (‘Sumitomo’ Japan), and










—


Joint Venture (‘JV’, Thailand)




Kuraray, PTTGC and Sumitomo acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the whole of JV.
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture.










2.


The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
—   for Kuraray: manufacturing of specialty chemicals, fibres and other materials,
—   for PTTGC: operations in petrochemicals and natural gas businesses, trading and distribution of fossile fuels and chemical products,
—   for Sumitomo: diversified business activities, including trading of metal products, transportation and construction of systems, environment and infrastructure, chemicals and electronics, media, networks and lifestyle-related goods, mineral resources and energy, and
—   for JV: manufacturing and supply of high performance polyamides and styrenic block copolymers.










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.










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.8739 — Kuraray/PTTGC/Sumitomo/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










(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘Merger Regulation’).

(2)  OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.