Opening of an in-depth examination into the acquisition of Société du Pipeline Méditerranée-Rhône (SPMR) by Ardian Group
Ardian is a French group that manages and advises investment funds and has interests in many companies around the world. In particular, it is active in the market for petroleum product storage services with the company Géosel-Manosque. On 14 September 2020, it notified the Autorité of its plan to acquire SPMR, a transporter of petroleum products by pipeline in France.
SPMR owns and operates the Méditerranée-Rhône pipeline, a 760 km-long pipeline network, which has supplied the depots in south-east France with refined oil products since 1968: diesel, petrol, heating oil and jet fuel.
As part of the examination of the case and after initial consultation with market stakeholders, the Autorité considered that the transaction warranted opening an in-depth examination (Phase 2).