4.1.2018   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 1/9

1.

On 18 December 2017 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:

Bunge and IOI acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of Loders.

The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   Bunge: is a US listed group operating in the agri-food sector. Its main activities include trading in oil seeds and cereal, grains, seed pressing and the production and marketing of edible oils.

—   IOI: is a Malaysian conglomerate active, amongst others, as a vertically integrated palm oil producer owning and operating palm oil plantations in Malaysia and Indonesia.

—   Loders: is the downstream edible oils & fats business of IOI operating refining and fractionation facilities in the US, the Netherlands, and Malaysia. Loders produces and supplies high-end semi-specialty and specialty edible oils and fats to industry customers in more than 100 countries worldwide.

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 the 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.8686 – Bunge/IOI/Loders

Observations can be sent to the Commission by email, by fax, or by post. Please use the contact details below: