# C_2005264EN.01000901.xml

| 25.10.2005 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 264/9 |
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25.10.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 264/9

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3885 — Apax/Barclays/TFT/Somerfield)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2005/C 264/07)

(Text with EEA relevance)

| 1. | On 17 October 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 Apax Europe IV (‘Apax’, Guernsey), ultimately controlled by the Hirtzell Trust, Barclays Bank plc (‘Barclays’, UK) and Tchenguiz Family Trust (‘TFT’, UK) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking Somerfield plc (‘Somerfield’, UK) by way of a public bid announced on 14 October 2005. |
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1.

On 17 October 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 Apax Europe IV (‘Apax’, Guernsey), ultimately controlled by the Hirtzell Trust, Barclays Bank plc (‘Barclays’, UK) and Tchenguiz Family Trust (‘TFT’, UK) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking Somerfield plc (‘Somerfield’, UK) by way of a public bid announced on 14 October 2005.

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






  — | for undertaking Apax: private equity and investment fund management; |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for undertaking Apax: private equity and investment fund management;

| — | for undertaking Barclays: financial services; |
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for undertaking Barclays: financial services;

| — | for undertaking TFT: venture capital and financial investments; |
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for undertaking TFT: venture capital and financial investments;

| — | for undertaking Somerfield: active in the grocery retail sector in the UK, under the trade names of ‘Somerfield’ and ‘Kwik Save’. |
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for undertaking Somerfield: active in the grocery retail sector in the UK, under the trade names of ‘Somerfield’ and ‘Kwik Save’.

| 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 (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.3885 — Apax/Barclays/TFT/Somerfield to the following address:





  European Commission |
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| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| J-70 |
| BE-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.3885 — Apax/Barclays/TFT/Somerfield to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

BE-1049 Brussels

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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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