The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess the proposed acquisition of Solvay's global nylon business by BASF, under the EU Merger Regulation. The Commission is concerned that the merger may reduce competition in the supply of key inputs in the nylon production chain.Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: "Nylon is used in everyday products like clothes, sports shoes and carpets. But it's also an important industrial input, for example contributing to make lighter engines and cars. However, only a few manufacturers provide essential inputs to produce different nylon products, so we need to carefully assess whether the proposed acquisition would lead to higher prices or less choice for European businesses and, ultimately, consumers.”
The proposed transaction involves Solvay and BASF, two companies active in the nylon industry, where both manufacture nylon compounds and nylon fibres.
Nylon compounds are used in a wide range of applications, particularly in the automotive and electronics industries, due to their light weight and good thermal resistance. As such, they are among the advanced materials used to develop lighter cars which produce less noxious emissions. Nylon fibres are used in particular for clothing and sportswear. The manufacture of nylon compounds and nylon fibres requires as a key input Adiponitrile ("ADN"), an oil derivative.
Solvay is currently the only manufacturer in the European Economic Area with production assets at all levels of the nylon production chain, from ADN to nylon compounds and nylon fibres. Currently, Solvay sells an important part of its production of intermediates at various levels of the value chain to other companies active in making nylon compounds and fibres. BASF is also vertically integrated, but does not produce ADN. It currently only sells a small part of its production of intermediates because it uses almost all of its production internally, for the production of nylon compounds and fibers.
The proposed transaction would create an important player in the nylon compounds market with a market size almost double that of the closest competitor. The merged entity would also control substantial parts of the merchant markets and of the production capacities at all levels of the nylon production chain. Moreover, no other player would be similarly fully integrated in the production chain. Competitors will thus depend on the merged entity to continue to supply them with one or more essential inputs.
In addition, there is no indication that competition could be preserved by new entrants, since access to essential inputs (such as ADN) is limited and critical to be able to compete effectively.
The Commission's preliminary competition concerns
At this stage, the Commission is concerned that the proposed transaction would reduce competition in the markets where the merged entity would be active. In particular, the Commission is concerned that this transaction could lead to higher prices due to the increased market power of the merged entity in the nylon compounds market, as well as due to its enhanced position in the nylon production chain.In particular, the Commission's initial market investigation raised competition concerns for the supply of the following essential inputs for the nylon production chain: ADN, Hexamethylene Diamine, Adipic Acid, Hexamethylenediamine adipate Salt, Polyamide 6.6 Base Polymer and Polyamide 6.6 Engineering Plastics.
The initial market investigation also showed that competitors of the merged entity fear that it would stop supplying them with these essential inputs because of its own increased needs downstream.
The Commission will now carry out an in-depth investigation into the effects of this transaction to determine whether its initial competition concerns are confirmed.
The transaction was notified to the Commission on 22 May 2018. The Commission now has 90 working days, until 31 October 2018, to take a decision. The opening of an in-depth investigation does not prejudge the outcome of the investigation.
Source: europa.eu
