Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11318 – RENGO / MC / MCT / SUN-TOX) – Candidate case for simplified procedure
Date: 2023-12-01
Institutions: Directorate-General for Competition, European Commission
Subjects: chemical industry, economic concentration, merger control, packaging product, paperboard, special chemicals








C_202301358EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
Series C













C/2023/1358


1.12.2023






Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.11318 – RENGO / MC / MCT / SUN-TOX)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(C/2023/1358)


1.   
On 23 November 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:






—


Rengo Co., Ltd. (‘Rengo’, Japan) through its subsidiary Sun-Tox Co., Ltd. (‘Sun-Tox’, Japan),










—


Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (‘MC’, Japan) through its subsidiary Mitsui Chemicals Tohcello, Inc. (‘MCT’, Japan).




Rengo and MC will acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of MCT having absorbed Sun-Tox business.
The concentration is accomplished by way of transfer of shares.


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






—


Rengo conducts business related to packaging and centers on the following core business fields: paperboard, corrugated packaging, folding cartons, flexible packaging and heavy-duty packaging,










—


Sun-Tox is active in the production of plastic films and secondary processed film. Its two major products are oriented polypropylene (OPP) film and cast polypropylene (CPP) film, which are used, among other applications, in the manufacturing of flexible packaging,










—


MC is active in the manufacturing of a broad range of chemicals, lubricants, and resins for various applications. It is also active in other industries which are not of relevance to the proposed concentration such as Life & Healthcare Solutions, Mobility Solutions, and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Solutions,










—


MCT is active in the manufacturing of packaging films and sheets, particularly OPP, CPP and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) films.






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 treatment for certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 on the control of concentrations between undertakings (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.11318 – RENGO / MC / MCT / SUN-TOX
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 160, 5.5.2023, p. 1.


ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2023/1358/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)