Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9326 — Saudi Aramco/Total Marketing/Sahel) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance.)
Date: 2019-04-12
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: economic concentration, fuel, merger control, oil industry, petroleum product, provision of services, retail trade, subsidiary








C_2019136EN.01002901.xml










12.4.2019   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 136/29






Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.9326 — Saudi Aramco/Total Marketing/Sahel)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2019/C 136/09)

1.   
On 5 April 2019, 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:






—


Saudi Aramco Retail Company (‘SARC’, Saudi Arabia),










—


Total Marketing Services S.A. (‘Total MS’, France),










—


Tasheelat Marketing Company (‘TMC’, Saudi Arabia) and










—


Sahl Transportation Company (‘STC’, Saudi Arabia) (TMC and STC together are referred to as ‘Sahel’).




SARC and Total MS acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the whole of Sahel. The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.


2.   
The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
—   for SARC: a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Arabian Oil Company (‘Saudi Aramco’, Saudi Arabia) which is responsible for owning and managing Saudi Aramco’s fuel retailing business in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Aramco is engaged in the production and marketing of refined products,
—   for Total MS: a wholly owned subsidiary of Total S.A. (‘Total’). Total MS is active in the distribution of refined petroleum products, including fuels. Total is an international integrated energy producer,
—   for Sahel: TMC operates a retail service station network across Saudi Arabia under the Sahel brand. It also provides, through two subsidiaries, a variety of goods and services, such as snacks and beverages, confectionary, fast food and car accessories. STC provides fuel transportation services to Sahel service stations.


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.9326 — Saudi Aramco/Total Marketing/Sahel
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.