Press Release: Mergers: European Commission opens in-depth investigation into proposed merger of Votorantim’s Citrovita and Fischer’s Citrosuco in orange juice sector

The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation under the EU Merger Regulation into the proposed creation of a joint venture by the Brazilian groups Votorantim and Fischer combining their respective activities in the orange juice sector. The Commission’s initial market investigation indicated that the transaction raises potential competition concerns in the European Economic Area (EEA) with respect to orange juice and a number of by-products that arise during the transformation of fresh oranges into juice. The decision to open an in-depth inquiry does not prejudge the final result of the investigation. The Commission now has 90 working days, until 19 May 2011, to take a final decision on whether the concentration would significantly impede effective competition within the EEA or a substantial part of it.