# C_2006182EN.01001001.xml

| 4.8.2006 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 182/10 |
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4.8.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 182/10

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4322 — Morgan Stanley/IHG/Portfolio Hotels)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2006/C 182/08)

(Text with EEA relevance)

| 1. | On 27 July 2006, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertakings Morgan Stanley Real Estate F International Funding, L.P. (‘MSREF’, US) and InterContinental Hotels Group plc (‘IHG’, UK) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of seven InterContinental-branded hotels located in the European Union (the ‘Portfolio Hotels’), currently owned by IHG, via purchase of shares and management contracts. |
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1.

On 27 July 2006, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertakings Morgan Stanley Real Estate F International Funding, L.P. (‘MSREF’, US) and InterContinental Hotels Group plc (‘IHG’, UK) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of seven InterContinental-branded hotels located in the European Union (the ‘Portfolio Hotels’), currently owned by IHG, via purchase of shares and management contracts.

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:






  — | for MSREF: real estate investment and management, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for MSREF: real estate investment and management,

| — | for IHG: ownership, management and franchising of hotels on a world-wide basis. |
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for IHG: ownership, management and franchising of hotels on a world-wide basis.

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice. |
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3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

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| 4. | The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.
  Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (fax (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M. 4322 — Morgan Stanley/IHG/Portfolio Hotels, to the following address:





  European Commission |
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| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| J-70 |
| B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel |

4.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (fax (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M. 4322 — Morgan Stanley/IHG/Portfolio Hotels, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

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(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

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(2)  OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32.

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