Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11149 - ASAHI KASEI / MITSUI CHEMICALS / JV) Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance) 2023/C 318/06
Date: 2023-09-08
Institutions: Directorate-General for Competition, European Commission
Subjects: Japan, Thailand, chemical industry, economic concentration, merger control, non-woven fabric








C_2023318EN.01000601.xml










8.9.2023   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 318/6







Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.11149 - ASAHI KASEI / MITSUI CHEMICALS / JV)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2023/C 318/06)


1.   
On 31 August 2023, 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:






—


Mitsui Chemicals Inc. (‘Mitsui Chemicals’, Japan),










—


Asahi Kasei Corp. (‘Asahi Kasei’, Japan),










—


Mitsui Chemicals Asahi Life Material Co. Ltd (the JV, Japan), a newly created company.




Mitsui Chemicals and Asahi Kasei will acquire within the meaning of Articles 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the JV.
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture.


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






—


Mitsui Chemicals is a multinational Japanese company engaged in the production and sale of chemical products worldwide. Mitsui Chemicals develops and sells a wide range of specialty products for a broad range of applications, including hygiene, industry, oil absorption, automotive interiors, civil engineering and filters, among others.










—


Asahi Kasei is a multinational Japanese chemical company primarily engaged in developing fiber products, chemicals, and electronic related materials. It operates in the material, homes, and. health care business sectors.






3.   

The JV will engage in the research and development, manufacture, marketing, sale and technical service of nonwoven fabrics made from spunbond process and from meltblown process, nonwoven filter systems and film and shape holding fibers. The joint venture company will carry on the operations that both Asahi Kasei and Mitsui Chemicals run in Japan and in Thailand for the production, development and sale of nonwovens products.



4.   
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.


5.   
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.11149 - ASAHI KASEI / MITSUI CHEMICALS / JV
Observations can be sent to the Commission by email or by post. Please use the contact details below:
Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu
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.