4.7.2008   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 169/14

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.5238 — Ineos/BASF Assets)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2008/C 169/06)

1.

On 25 June 2008, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Ineos Group Limited (‘Ineos’, United Kingdom) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of a plant of the undertaking BASF plc, controlled by BASF SE (‘BASF Assets’, United Kingdom) by way of purchase of assets.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

for Ineos: global manufacturer of specialty and intermediate chemicals,

—

for BASF: chemical company with a product portfolio ranging from chemicals, plastics, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas,

—

for BASF Assets: plant producing ACN.

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

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 ((32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.5238 — Ineos/BASF Assets, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.