# C_2017042EN.01000801.xml

| 9.2.2017 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 42/8 |
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9.2.2017

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 42/8

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.8349 — KKR/The GfK Verein/GfK)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2017/C 42/06)

| 1. | On 2 February 2017, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertakings KKR & Co. L.P. (“KKR”, United States of America) and GfK-Nürnberg Gesellschaft für Konsum-, Markt- und Absatzforschung e.V (“The GfK Verein”, Germany) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of GfK SE (“GfK”, Germany) by way of public bid announced on 21 December 2016. |
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1.

On 2 February 2017, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertakings KKR & Co. L.P. (“KKR”, United States of America) and GfK-Nürnberg Gesellschaft für Konsum-, Markt- und Absatzforschung e.V (“The GfK Verein”, Germany) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of GfK SE (“GfK”, Germany) by way of public bid announced on 21 December 2016.

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






  — | KKR is a global investment firm which offers a broad range of alternative asset management services to public and private market investors and provides capital markets solutions for the firm, its portfolio companies and clients; |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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KKR is a global investment firm which offers a broad range of alternative asset management services to public and private market investors and provides capital markets solutions for the firm, its portfolio companies and clients;

| — | The GfK Verein is a non-profit organization whose activities are carrying out fundamental research, close cooperation with scientific institutions, particularly with the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen- Nuernberg, maintaining a library and the training of market researchers and the continued training of leadership personnel. |
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The GfK Verein is a non-profit organization whose activities are carrying out fundamental research, close cooperation with scientific institutions, particularly with the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen- Nuernberg, maintaining a library and the training of market researchers and the continued training of leadership personnel.

| — | GfK is a global market research company, listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The GfK Verein is its largest shareholder. |
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GfK is a global market research company, listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The GfK Verein is its largest shareholder.

| 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. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under the 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 this Notice. |
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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. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under the 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 this 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 (+32 22964301), by email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference M.8349 — KKR/The GfK Verein/GfK, to the following address:





  European Commission |
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| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel |
| BELGIQUE/BELGIË |

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.8349 — KKR/The GfK Verein/GfK, to the following address:

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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(2)  OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.

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