Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9032 — E.ON/Helen/Virta) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance.)
Date: 2018-11-20
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: economic concentration, electric vehicle, electricity supply, energy distribution, energy production, gas supply, heating, merger control, renewable energy, retail selling








C_2018420EN.01000701.xml










20.11.2018   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 420/7






Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.9032 — E.ON/Helen/Virta)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2018/C 420/04)

1.   
On 13 November 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:






—


E.ON SE, via its subsidiary E.ON Drive Infrastructure GmbH (‘E.ON’, Germany),










—


Helen Oy (‘Helen’, Finland),










—


Liikennevirta Oy (‘Virta’, Finland).




E.ON and Helen acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the whole of Virta.
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.


2.   
The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
—   E.ON: focussed on three main business areas: (i) electricity generation from renewable energy sources, (ii) energy distribution networks and (iii) customer solutions (including electricity and gas retail supply). In addition, E.ON offers e-mobility services, including the operation of charging stations for electrical vehicles in several EU countries.
—   Helen: its business consists primarily in the production of electricity, district heating and cooling, as well as energy distribution and sales. In addition, Helen offers a wide range of services for small-scale energy production and the customers' own energy use. Since 2012, Helen also offers electric vehicle charging points in Finland.
—   Virta: provides a range of services related to the charging of electric vehicles. It operates primarily in Finland and has also activities in Czechia, France, Germany, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.


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.9032 — E.ON/Helen/Virta
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.