Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10837 – ASTARA WESTERN EUROPE / MITSUBISHI CORPORATION / ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED / ISUZU SALES DEUTSCHLAND) Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance) 2022/C 466/10
Date: 2022-12-07
Institutions: Directorate-General for Competition, European Commission
Subjects: economic concentration, investment company, light-duty vehicle, merger control, motor vehicle, retail trade, spare part, wholesale trade








C_2022466EN.01002801.xml










7.12.2022   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 466/28






Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.10837 – ASTARA WESTERN EUROPE / MITSUBISHI CORPORATION / ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED / ISUZU SALES DEUTSCHLAND)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2022/C 466/10)

1.   
On 28 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:






—


Astara Western Europe N.V. (Belgium),










—


Mitsubishi Corporation (Japan),










—


Isuzu Motors Limited (‘Isuzu’, Japan),










—


Isuzu Sales Deutschland GmbH (Germany), a joint venture currently controlled by Mitsubishi Corporation and Isuzu.




Astara Western Europe, Mitsubishi Corporation and Isuzu will acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the whole of Isuzu Sales Deutschland.
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.


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






—


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










—


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










—


Isuzu is active in the manufacture and distribution of motor vehicles,










—


Isuzu Sales Deutschland active in the import and distribution of new light weight commercial vehicles and related spare parts and accessories.






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.10837 – ASTARA WESTERN EUROPE / MITSUBISHI CORPORATION / ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED / ISUZU SALES DEUTSCHLAND
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.