# C_2007055EN.01002901.xml

| 10.3.2007 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 55/29 |
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10.3.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 55/29

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4583 — Deutsche Post/Metro/GS1 Germany/JV)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2007/C 55/07)

| 1. | On 1 March 2007, 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 Deutsche Post AG (‘DP’, Germany), Metro AG (‘Metro’, Germany) and GS1 Germany GmbH (‘GS1’, Germany) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking European EPC Competence Center GmbH (‘EPC’, Germany) by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture. |
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1.

On 1 March 2007, 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 Deutsche Post AG (‘DP’, Germany), Metro AG (‘Metro’, Germany) and GS1 Germany GmbH (‘GS1’, Germany) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking European EPC Competence Center GmbH (‘EPC’, Germany) by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture.

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






  — | for undertaking DP: postal services, logistics, financial services; |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for undertaking DP: postal services, logistics, financial services;

| — | for undertaking Metro: supermarkets; |
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for undertaking Metro: supermarkets;

| — | for undertaking GS1: Concepts for the optimization of traffic as regards data and goods; |
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for undertaking GS1: Concepts for the optimization of traffic as regards data and goods;

| — | for undertaking EPC: Operation of a test centre for the validation of transponders provided with goods. |
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for undertaking EPC: Operation of a test centre for the validation of transponders provided with goods.

| 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 No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.4583 — Deutsche Post/Metro/GS1 Germany/JV, 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 No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.4583 — Deutsche Post/Metro/GS1 Germany/JV, 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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