# C_2017054EN.01000701.xml

| 21.2.2017 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 54/7 |
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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.8358 — Macquarie/National Grid/Gas Distribution business of National Grid)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2017/C 54/07)

| 1. | On 9 February 2017, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004( 1 ) by which National Grid plc (‘National Grid’, United Kingdom) and Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (Europe) Limited (United Kingdom), part of the Macquarie Group, acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the gas distribution business of National Grid comprised of four distribution networks (‘Target’, United Kingdom) by way of acquisition of shares. |
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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
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Macquarie Group is a global provider of banking, financial, advisory, investment and funds management services. Macquarie Group controls companies which have the following activities in the gas sector in the United Kingdom: (i) Energetics, an independent gas transporter which is involved in the provision of gas connections; and (ii) Corona Energy, a company supplying gas and electricity primarily to commercial, industrial and public sector clients in the United Kingdom. —
National Grid’s principal operations are the ownership and operation of regulated electricity and gas infrastructure in the United Kingdom. —
Target comprises four out of the eight regulated gas distribution networks across parts of the UK that encompasses the East of England, North London, the North West of England and the West Midlands. The Target is currently solely controlled by National Grid. | — | Macquarie Group is a global provider of banking, financial, advisory, investment and funds management services. Macquarie Group controls companies which have the following activities in the gas sector in the United Kingdom: (i) Energetics, an independent gas transporter which is involved in the provision of gas connections; and (ii) Corona Energy, a company supplying gas and electricity primarily to commercial, industrial and public sector clients in the United Kingdom. | — | National Grid’s principal operations are the ownership and operation of regulated electricity and gas infrastructure in the United Kingdom. | — | Target comprises four out of the eight regulated gas distribution networks across parts of the UK that encompasses the East of England, North London, the North West of England and the West Midlands. The Target is currently solely controlled by National Grid. |
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| — | Macquarie Group is a global provider of banking, financial, advisory, investment and funds management services. Macquarie Group controls companies which have the following activities in the gas sector in the United Kingdom: (i) Energetics, an independent gas transporter which is involved in the provision of gas connections; and (ii) Corona Energy, a company supplying gas and electricity primarily to commercial, industrial and public sector clients in the United Kingdom. | | | | | | |
| — | National Grid’s principal operations are the ownership and operation of regulated electricity and gas infrastructure in the United Kingdom. | | | | | | |
| — | Target comprises four out of the eight regulated gas distribution networks across parts of the UK that encompasses the East of England, North London, the North West of England and the West Midlands. The Target is currently solely controlled by National Grid. | | | | | | |

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. |
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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 (+32 22964301), by email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference M.8358 — Macquarie/National Grid/Gas Distribution business of National Grid, to the following address:
European Commission Directorate-General for Competition Merger Registry 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel BELGIQUE/BELGIË | European Commission | Directorate-General for Competition | Merger Registry | 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel | BELGIQUE/BELGIË |
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| European Commission | | | | | | |
| Directorate-General for Competition | | | | | | |
| Merger Registry | | | | | | |
| 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel | | | | | | |
| BELGIQUE/BELGIË | | | | | | |

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( 1 )  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘Merger Regulation’).

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