The European Commission has opened a detailed investigation under the EU Merger Regulation into the planned acquisition by the UK company Ineos of the ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol businesses of BP at Dormagen (Germany). This transaction would make Ineos the largest supplier of ethylene oxide to the merchant market in the EEA.
The Commission's preliminary market investigation has found that the proposed transaction could create significant competition concerns given the strong market position that Ineos would achieve on mainly the ethylene oxide market. The Commission now has 90 working days (until 14th July) to take a final decision on whether the concentration would significantly impede effective competition within the European Economic Area (EEA) or a significant part of it.
Ineos is a UK based company active worldwide in the production, distribution, sales and marketing of intermediate and speciality chemicals. Prior to this transaction, Ineos acquired Innovene from British Petroleum, which manufactures a range of petrochemicals, including olefins and their derivatives and a range of refinery products.
02-Mar-06 
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