Acquisition of Loders by Bunge and IOI Cleared
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control over Loders Croklaan Group (Loders) by Koninklijke Bunge (Bunge), both of the Netherlands and by IOI Corporation Berhad (IOI) of Malaysia. Loders produces and supplies high-end semi-specialty and specialty edible oils and fats to industry customers in more than 100 countries worldwide. Bunge trades and mills oil seeds, grains and cereals and produces and markets edible oils. IOI is a Malaysian conglomerate active, amongst others, as a vertically integrated palm oil producer owning and operating palm oil plantations in Malaysia and Indonesia.
The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns given the very limited horizontal overlaps and vertical links between the companies’ activities. The transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
