Brussels, 10/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - On 7 January, the European Commission opened an in-depth investigation into the proposed creation of a joint venture by the diversified Brazilian groups Fischer and Votorantim through the merger of their respective subsidiaries Citrosuco and Citrovita, active in the fruit juice, orange juice and orange by-products sectors. The Commission's initial investigation showed that the transaction would bring together two of the largest orange juice producers in the world and lead to significant overlaps between the merging parties' activities in the EEA where they supply orange juice at the wholesale level to companies active in the beverage sector which, in turn, supply end consumers. The initial investigation also showed that the joint venture would have a strong position on the markets for the supply of a number of by-products which are produced during the transformation of fresh oranges into juice, such as orange oils and essences. (F.G./transl.rt)