16.1.2018   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 14/13


Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.8693 — EDF/Canadian Solar/JV)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2018/C 14/10)

1.

On 9 January 2018, 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:

Canadian Solar Inc (‘Canadian Solar’, Canada),

EDF ENR PWT (‘EDF ENR’, France), belonging to the group EDF (France),

the newly established joint venture Newco (France).

Canadian Solar and EDF ENR acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of Newco.

The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

EDF ENR is specialized in the production of photovoltaic ingots, bricks, wafers, cells and modules, and a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of EDF Group, an energy company active in generation and wholesale supply of electricity, transmission, distribution and retail supply of electricity,

Canadian Solar is active worldwide in the manufacturing and supply of photovoltaic modules and the development, construction, operation and maintenance of photovoltaic energy projects.

Newco will develop, manufacture and sell solar ingots, bricks and wafers.

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:

Case M.8693 — EDF/Canadian Solar/JV

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

Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu

Fax +32 22964301

Postal 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’).

(2)  OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.