Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9670 — APMC Group/GSEZ Cargo Ports/GSEZ Mineral Port/TIPSP/Arise) Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance) 2019/C 425/10
Date: 2019-12-18
Institutions: Directorate-General for Competition, European Commission
Subjects: building industry, carriage of goods, economic concentration, energy industry, harbour installation, information technology industry, investment company, logistics, merger control, real estate business








C_2019425EN.01005401.xml










18.12.2019   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 425/54






Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.9670 — APMC Group/GSEZ Cargo Ports/GSEZ Mineral Port/TIPSP/Arise)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2019/C 425/10)

1.   
On 5 December 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:






—


A.P. Møller Capital P/S (‘APMC’, Denmark),










—


Meridiam (Meridiam, France),










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Caisse des Dépôts et Consignation du Gabon (‘CDCG’,Gabon),










—


SNEDAI Groupe (‘SNEDAI’, Ivory Coast).




APMC and Meridiam, CDCG and SNEDAI acquire within the meaning of Articles 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of four project companies, i.e. Gabon Special Economic Zone Ports S.A. (‘GSEZ Cargo Ports’), Gabon Special Economic Zone Mineral Port S.A. (‘GSEZ Mineral Port’), Arise Mauritania S.A. (‘Arise’) and Terminal Industriel Polyvalent de San Pedro S.A. (‘TIPSP’).
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.


2.   
The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:






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APMC: fund management company founded in 2017 managing funds focussing on infrastructure in growth markets. It is an affiliate in A.P. Møller Holding, a major shareholder in A.P. Møller-Maersk A/S (APMM) group, an integrated transport and logistics company headquartered in Denmark,










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Meridiam: international investment group headquartered in Paris active in the development, financing and management of essential infrastructure projects in Europe, Canada and the United States,










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CDCG: financial institution, active in investment and lending in the public financial sector in Gabon,










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SNEDAI: an Ivory Coast company that mainly works in information and communications technology, energy, transportation, real estate and public works,










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GSEZ Cargo Ports: a company operating a cargo terminal and logistics business in Owendo, Libreville, Gabon. Post-transaction, GSEZ Cargo Ports will be indirectly jointly controlled by APMC and CDCG,










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GSEZ Mineral Port: a Gabonese incorporated company operating a mineral terminal in Owendo, Libreville, Gabon,










—


Arise: a company which holds a concession to build and operate a cargo port at Port Autonome de Nouakchott, Mauritania. Post-transaction, Arise will be indirectly jointly controlled by APMC and Meridiam,










—


TIPSP: a company which holds a concession to build and operate a bulk terminal in San Pedro, Ivory Coast. Post-transaction, TIPSP will be indirectly jointly controlled by APMC and SNEDAI.






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.9670 — APMC Group/GSEZ Cargo Ports/GSEZ Mineral Port/TIPSP/Arise
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.