26.11.2013   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 345/22

1.

On 18 November 2013, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Funds managed by The Carlyle Group (‘Carlyle’) from the USA acquire joint control within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control over Varo Energy Holding SA (‘Varo’) from Switzerland. Varo is currently and will continue to be — indirectly — jointly controlled by Vitol Group BV (‘Vitol Group’) from the Netherlands. In addition, as part of the present transaction, Varo intends to acquire certain other companies from Vitol group in Germany.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the EC 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 the EC Merger Regulation (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. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (+32 22964301), by email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.7087 — Vitol/Carlyle/Varo, to the following address: