23.9.2016   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 348/20

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.8096 — International Paper Company/Weyerhaeuser Target Business)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2016/C 348/12)

1.

On 15 September 2016, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which International Paper Company (‘IP’, USA) will acquire sole control over the pulp business of Weyerhaeuser Company (Weyerhaeuser Target Business, ‘WTB’, USA) within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation, by means of purchase of assets and shares.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

IP is a packaging and paper company with manufacturing operations in North America, the EEA, Latin America, Russia, Asia and North Africa, that is active in the production of containerboard and corrugated boxes, pulp, consumer packaging (carton board), cups and white paper;

—

WTB constitutes the major part of the Weyerhaeuser Group's Cellulose Fibers business segment. WTB consists in particular of five mills, located in North America, and two converting facilities, one located in the United States (Columbus, Mississippi) and one in Poland (Gdansk). These mills produce fluff pulp, softwood pulp, and specialty pulp for a number of consumer applications including diapers, feminine hygiene products, tissue, towels and textiles.

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.

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 M.8096 — International Paper Company/Weyerhaeuser Target Business, to the following 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’).