# C_2005154EN.01000901.xml

| 25.6.2005 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 154/9 |
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25.6.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 154/9

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M. 3858 — Lehman Brothers/SCG/Starwood/Le Meridien)

(2005/C 154/04)

(Text with EEA relevance)

| 1. | On 15 June 2005, 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 Lehman Brothers Inc. (‘Lehman Brothers’, US), Starwood Capital Group Global, L.L.C. (‘SCG’, US) and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (‘Starwood’, US) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control over 23 hotels owned and leased by Le Meridien (‘Le Meridien target hotels’) by way of purchase of shares and management contracts. |
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1.

On 15 June 2005, 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 Lehman Brothers Inc. (‘Lehman Brothers’, US), Starwood Capital Group Global, L.L.C. (‘SCG’, US) and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (‘Starwood’, US) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control over 23 hotels owned and leased by Le Meridien (‘Le Meridien target hotels’) by way of purchase of shares and management contracts.

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






  — | for Lehman Brothers: investment company active in, inter alia, private investment management, investment banking, investment in real estate and asset management, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for Lehman Brothers: investment company active in, inter alia, private investment management, investment banking, investment in real estate and asset management,

inter alia

| — | for SCG: real estate investment, |
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for SCG: real estate investment,

| — | for Starwood: worldwide hotel and leisure operation, |
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for Starwood: worldwide hotel and leisure operation,

| — | for Le Meridien target hotels: 23 Le Meridien owned and leased hotels located mainly in the EU. |
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for Le Meridien target hotels: 23 Le Meridien owned and leased hotels located mainly in the EU.

| 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. |
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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.

| 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 (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M. 3858 — Lehman Brothers/SCG/Starwood/Le Meridien, to the following address:





  European Commission |
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| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| J-70 |
| B-1049 Brussels |

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 (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M. 3858 — Lehman Brothers/SCG/Starwood/Le Meridien, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Brussels

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

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