# C_2006207EN.01001301.xml

| 30.8.2006 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 207/13 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

30.8.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 207/13

---

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4378 — Providence/Caudwell Group)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2006/C 207/06)

(Text with EEA relevance)

| 1. | On 21 August 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 undertaking Providence Equity Offshore Partners V, LP (‘Providence’, Cayman Islands) belonging to the group Providence Equity Partners, acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Caudwell Holdings Limited (‘Caudwell Group’, UK) by way of purchase of shares. Shortly after completion of the transaction, Providence intends to sell on part of the acquired Caudwell Group business as part of a related transaction. |
| --- | --- |

1.

On 21 August 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 undertaking Providence Equity Offshore Partners V, LP (‘Providence’, Cayman Islands) belonging to the group Providence Equity Partners, acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Caudwell Holdings Limited (‘Caudwell Group’, UK) by way of purchase of shares. Shortly after completion of the transaction, Providence intends to sell on part of the acquired Caudwell Group business as part of a related transaction.

1

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






  — | for Providence: private investment fund of Providence Equity Partners Inc. which is a global private investment firm specializing in equity investments in media and communications companies; |
| --- | --- | --- |

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

for Providence: private investment fund of Providence Equity Partners Inc. which is a global private investment firm specializing in equity investments in media and communications companies;

| — | for Caudwell Group: sale of mobile phones and related services, mobile handset distribution and repair services, insurance products and recruitment of personnel. |
| --- | --- |

—

for Caudwell Group: sale of mobile phones and related services, mobile handset distribution and repair services, insurance products and recruitment of personnel.

| 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. |
| --- | --- |

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.

2

| 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 No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.4378 — Providence/Caudwell Group, to the following address:





  European Commission |
| --- | --- |
| 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 No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.4378 — Providence/Caudwell Group, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

---

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

1

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

2

---