The European Commission said in a statement it has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the proposed acquisition of joint control of a newly created joint venture by Marquard & Bahls AG and Linde AG, all of Germany.
M&B operates in oil trading, tank-terminal storage, aviation fuelling and renewable energy. Linde supplies industrial and medical gases, equipment, engineering and services.
The JV will be active in bulk supply of liquid natural gas as ship fuel (LNG bunkering) in the European Sulphur Emission Control Area (“SECA”, i.e. the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the English Channel and connected inland waterways).
The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure, the European Commission added.
[mappress] LNG World News Staff, August 23, 2012