# C_2016418EN.01000401.xml

| 12.11.2016 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 418/4 |
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12.11.2016

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 418/4

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.8264 — Michelin/Limagrain/Exotic Systems)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2016/C 418/04)

| 1. | On 4 November 2016, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the Compagnie Générale des Etablissements Michelin (‘CGEM’, France), through its wholly-owned subsidiary Spika, and the Limagrain Group (‘Limagrain’, France), through its subsidiary Vilmorin & Cie, acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of Exotic Systems (France) by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 4 November 2016, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the Compagnie Générale des Etablissements Michelin (‘CGEM’, France), through its wholly-owned subsidiary Spika, and the Limagrain Group (‘Limagrain’, France), through its subsidiary Vilmorin & Cie, acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of Exotic Systems (France) by way of purchase of shares.

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






  — | CGEM is the holding company of the Michelin Group. Michelin is a French group manufacturing tires for cars, vans, trucks, farm machinery, earthmovers, motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, aircraft, subway trains and tramways. Michelin is active in the tires manufacturing sector as well as in the tires distribution sector, through retail stores and online networks. |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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CGEM is the holding company of the Michelin Group. Michelin is a French group manufacturing tires for cars, vans, trucks, farm machinery, earthmovers, motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, aircraft, subway trains and tramways. Michelin is active in the tires manufacturing sector as well as in the tires distribution sector, through retail stores and online networks.

| — | Limagrain is an international agro-industrial group, specialized in field seeds, vegetable seeds and cereal products. Vilmorin & Cie is controlled by Limagrain and responsible for undertaking research, breeding, production and sales of seeds to the professional sector. |
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Limagrain is an international agro-industrial group, specialized in field seeds, vegetable seeds and cereal products. Vilmorin & Cie is controlled by Limagrain and responsible for undertaking research, breeding, production and sales of seeds to the professional sector.

| — | Exotic Systems is a French firm of engineering consultants specializing in the design and manufacture of connected devices. |
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Exotic Systems is a French firm of engineering consultants specializing in the design and manufacture of connected devices.

| 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.8264 — Michelin/Limagrain/Exotic Systems, 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.8264 — Michelin/Limagrain/Exotic Systems, 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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