5.9.2023
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
C 315/9
Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11150 - VERSALIS / NOVAMONT) Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance)
(2023/C 315/07)
1.
On 25 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: — Versalis S.p.A., (Versalis, Italy), controlled by ENI S.p.A. (ENI, Italy), — Novamont S.p.A. (Novamont, Italy), indirectly jointly controlled by Neuberger Berman Group, LLC (US) and Investitori Associati II S.A. in liquidation (Luxembourg), — Matrica S.p.A. (Matrica, Italy), a 50:50 joint venture established on 13 June 2011 between Versalis and Novamont.
Versalis will acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of the whole of Novamont and sole control over Matrica.
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.
2.
The business activities of the undertakings concerned are the following:
— Versalis is active in the fields of basic and intermediate chemicals, plastics, rubber and chemicals from renewable sources with production plants in the EEA, UK and South Korea and operates through an international commercial network, — Novamont is active in the production of bioplastics and in the development of bioproducts and biochemicals from renewable resources with production facilities in the EEA and US and operates through an international commercial network, — Matrica is active in products that are derived entirely from renewable resources on the basis of new technologies with low environmental impact that aim to use the molecular complexity of the vegetable raw material to produce chemicals with high added value.
Matrica employs a process for the transformation of vegetable oils into mono and dicarboxylic acids and esters, making it possible to obtain high-purity products.
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.11150 - VERSALIS / NOVAMONT (1) OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘Merger Regulation’).
(2) OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.