5.7.2018

Official Journal of the European Union

C 234/1

Initiation of proceedings

(Case M.8674 — BASF/Solvay’s EP and P&I Business)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2018/C 234/01)

On 26 June 2018, the Commission decided to initiate proceedings in the abovementioned case after finding that the notified concentration raises serious doubts as to its compatibility with the internal market. The initiation of proceedings opens a second phase investigation with regard to the notified concentration, and is without prejudice to the final decision on the case. The decision is based on Article 6(1)(c) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1).

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their observations on the proposed concentration to the Commission.

In order to be fully taken into account in the procedure, observations should reach the Commission not later than 15 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 M.8674 — BASF/Solvay’s EP and P&I 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’).

5.7.2018

Official Journal of the European Union

C 234/2

Euro exchange rates (1)

4 July 2018

(2018/C 234/02)

1 euro =

	Currency	Exchange rate
USD	US dollar	1,1642
JPY	Japanese yen	128,64
DKK	Danish krone	7,4507
GBP	Pound sterling	0,88108
SEK	Swedish krona	10,2510
CHF	Swiss franc	1,1557
ISK	Iceland króna	125,25
NOK	Norwegian krone	9,4433
BGN	Bulgarian lev	1,9558
CZK	Czech koruna	26,028
HUF	Hungarian forint	325,65
PLN	Polish zloty	4,3790
RON	Romanian leu	4,6656
TRY	Turkish lira	5,4692
AUD	Australian dollar	1,5763
CAD	Canadian dollar	1,5306
HKD	Hong Kong dollar	9,1307
NZD	New Zealand dollar	1,7217
SGD	Singapore dollar	1,5891
KRW	South Korean won	1 301,20
ZAR	South African rand	15,9628
CNY	Chinese yuan renminbi	7,7207
HRK	Croatian kuna	7,3940
IDR	Indonesian rupiah	16 709,00
MYR	Malaysian ringgit	4,7104
PHP	Philippine peso	62,158
RUB	Russian rouble	73,6646
THB	Thai baht	38,622
BRL	Brazilian real	4,5346
MXN	Mexican peso	22,6786
INR	Indian rupee	80,0270

(1) Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.

5.7.2018

Official Journal of the European Union

C 234/3

New national side of euro coins intended for circulation

(2018/C 234/03)

National side of the new commemorative 2-euro coin intended for circulation and issued by Latvia

Euro coins intended for circulation have legal tender status throughout the euro area. For the purpose of informing the public and all parties who handle the coins, the Commission publishes a description of the designs of all new coins (1). In accordance with the Council conclusions of 10 February 2009 (2), euro-area Member States and countries that have concluded a monetary agreement with the European Union providing for the issuing of euro coins are allowed to issue commemorative euro coins intended for circulation, provided that certain conditions are met, particularly that only the 2-euro denomination is used. These coins have the same technical characteristics as other 2-euro coins, but their national face features a commemorative design that is highly symbolic in national or European terms.

Issuing country : Latvia

Subject of commemoration : Zemgale

Description of the design : The design shows the coat of arms of the region of Zemgale. At the top, the name of the issuing country ‘LATVIJA’ and at the bottom the inscription ‘ZEMGALE’. At the right hand side, the year of issuance ‘2018’.

The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Estimated number of coins to be issued :

Date of issue : Second half of 2018

(1) See OJ C 373, 28.12.2001, p. 1 for the national faces of all the coins issued in 2002.

(2) See the conclusions of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council of 10 February 2009 and the Commission Recommendation of 19 December 2008 on common guidelines for the national sides and the issuance of euro coins intended for circulation (OJ L 9, 14.1.2009, p. 52).

5.7.2018

Official Journal of the European Union

C 234/4

New national side of euro coins intended for circulation

(2018/C 234/04)

National side of the new commemorative 2-euro coin intended for circulation and issued by Portugal

Issuing country : Portugal

Subject of commemoration : 250 years of the Ajuda Botanical Garden (‘Jardim Botânico da Ajuda’)

Description of the design : The design shows a very old Dracaena tree that is in the Ajuda Botanical Garden premises and is a symbol of the garden. The Ajuda Botanical Garden is a Technological Support Unit of the Agronomy University. It plays the role of an infrastructure for education and research but is also open to the public. It was the first botanical garden in Portugal projected to preserve, study and collect the most numerous possible species from the plant world. At the top of the design, from left to right, in semi-circle, there is the inscription ‘250 ANOS JARDIM BOTÂNICO DA AJUDA’. At the bottom, from left to right, in semi-circle, there is the isncription ‘PORTUGAL 2018’. Right underneath the image of the trees, at the left side, there are the initials of the artist ‘J. FAZENDA’ and at the right side the mintmark ‘INCM’.

The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Estimated number of coins to be issued :

Date of issue : Second half of 2018

(1) See OJ C 373, 28.12.2001, p. 1 for the national faces of all the coins issued in 2002.

5.7.2018

Official Journal of the European Union

C 234/5

New national side of euro coins intended for circulation

(2018/C 234/05)

National side of the new commemorative 2-euro coin intended for circulation and issued by Portugal

Issuing country : Portugal

Subject of commemoration : 250 years of the Official Printing Works (‘Imprensa Nacional’)

Description of the design : The design displays the inscription ‘1768-2018 IMPRENSA NACIONAL DUZENTOS E CINQUENTA 250 ANOS PORTUGAL MMXVIII’ as if the letters and numbers were books displayed in a library. At the bottom of the inner ring there is the name of the artist ‘Eduardo Aires’ at the left side and the mintmark ‘INCM’ at the right side. The Official Printing Works are responsible with the publication of the Portuguese Official Journal containing all the legislative activity of the country, books of the highest cultural relevance, and other cultural activities.

The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Estimated number of coins to be issued :

Date of issue : Second half of 2018

(1) See OJ C 373, 28.12.2001, p. 1 for the national faces of all the coins issued in 2002.

5.7.2018

Official Journal of the European Union

C 234/6

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.8946 — Lindsay Goldberg/Coveris Rigid)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2018/C 234/06)

On 25 June 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:

—	Goldberg, Lindsay & Co., LLC (‘Lindsay Goldberg’, USA), and

—	the rigid plastic packaging business of Coveris Group (‘Coveris Rigid’, Germany/Luxembourg), consisting of Coveris International Holdings SARL, Coveris Rigid Deutschland GmbH and Coveris Rigid (Ravensburg) Deutschland GmbH (and their respective subsidiaries).

Lindsay Goldberg acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of the whole of Coveris Rigid.

The concentration is accomplished by way of a purchase of shares.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

— for Lindsay Goldberg: private equity investment firm with 16 portfolio companies, none of which is active in the production and supply of rigid plastic packaging products in the EEA,

— for Coveris Rigid: production and sale of rigid plastic packaging solutions such as pots and containers, trays, closures, lids, and sheets, based on different materials for use in various downstream industry sectors.

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.

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.8946 — Lindsay Goldberg/Coveris Rigid

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.

5.7.2018

Official Journal of the European Union

C 234/8

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.8925 — RWA/ZG/HGD JV)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2018/C 234/07)

On 26 June 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:

—	RWA Raiffeisen Ware Austria AG (‘RWA’, Austria), controlled by Baywa AG (‘BayWa’, Germany),

—	ZG Raiffeisen eG (‘ZG’, Germany),

—	Haus und Garten Deutschland Handelskooperation GmbH (‘HGD’, Germany).

RWA and ZG acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of HGD.

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

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

— for Baywa: trading, logistics and supplementary services in three operating segments Agriculture, Energy and Building Materials and the Innovation & Digitalisation development segment worldwide. In the Agriculture Segment; provision of trading and other services for the agricultural and food industry, trade and logistics of agricultural commodities, and sale and maintenance of agricultural equipment,

— for RWA: wholesale of agricultural products, inputs as well as agricultural machinery and spare parts, energy, building materials and products for home & garden. Franchising for building & garden centres and building materials under the Lagerhaus brand in Austria,

— for ZG: cooperatively organised wholesale and service provision in agruciltural goods, feedstuff, agicultiral machinery, building materials and energy for members active in agriculture and forestry among others,

— for the JV HGD: procurement and product range design services for building & garden centres throughout Germany.

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.

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.8925 — RWA/ZG/HGD 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.

		ISSN 1977-091X
Official Journal of the European Union		C 234

English edition	Information and Notices	Volume 61 5 July 2018

Contents		page
	II Information
	INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES
	European Commission
2018/C 234/01	Initiation of proceedings (Case M.8674 — BASF/Solvay’s EP and P&I Business) ( 1)	1

	V Announcements
	PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY
	European Commission
2018/C 234/06	Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.8946 — Lindsay Goldberg/Coveris Rigid) — Candidate case for simplified procedure ( 1)	6
2018/C 234/07	Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.8925 — RWA/ZG/HGD JV) — Candidate case for simplified procedure ( 1)	8

	IV Notices
	NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES
	European Commission
2018/C 234/02	Euro exchange rates	2
2018/C 234/03	New national side of euro coins intended for circulation	3
2018/C 234/04	New national side of euro coins intended for circulation	4
2018/C 234/05	New national side of euro coins intended for circulation	5