Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10838 – BERSAN EUROPEA DE AUTOMOCION / ASTARA WESTERN EUROPE) Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance) 2022/C 448/07
Date: 2022-11-25
Institutions: Directorate-General for Competition, European Commission
Subjects: economic concentration, harbour installation, holding company, logistics, maintenance, merger control, motor vehicle, renewable energy, sale, two-wheeled vehicle








C_2022448EN.01003301.xml










25.11.2022   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 448/33






Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.10838 – BERSAN EUROPEA DE AUTOMOCION / ASTARA WESTERN EUROPE)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2022/C 448/07)

1.   
On 16 November 2022, 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:






—


Inversiones Europeas Elsan, S.L. (‘Elsan’, Spain), belonging to the Algeciras Group (Chile),










—


Bergé y Compañía, S.A. (‘Bergé’, Spain), belonging to the Bergé group (Spain),










—


Mitsubishi Corporation (Japan),










—


Astara Western Europe N.V. (Belgium), a joint venture currently indirectly controlled by Elsan, Bergé, Mitsubishi Corporation and Alcopa N.V (Belgium).




Elsan, Bergé and Mitsubishi Corporation, through the jointly controlled holding company Bersan Europea de Automocion S.L. (‘Bersan EDA’, Spain), will acquire within the meaning of Articles 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the whole of Astara Western Europe.
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.


2.   
The business activities of the undertakings concerned are the following:






—


Elsan is active in the EEA, via joint ventures with Bergé, in the distribution of passenger cars, light commercial vehicles and related spare parts and in related after sales services and financing,










—


Bergé is part of the Bergé Group. The Bergé Group is active within maritime ports, logistics, renewable energy, finance and import, wholesale and retail distribution of motor vehicles,










—


Mitsubishi Corporation is active across several industries, including industrial finance, energy, metals, machinery, chemicals, food and environment and the distribution of motor vehicles,










—


Astara Western Europe is active in import and wholesale distribution of four-wheel motorvehicles.






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 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.10838 – BERSAN EUROPEA DE AUTOMOCION / ASTARA WESTERN EUROPE
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.