# C_2006006EN.01000701.xml

| 11.1.2006 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 6/7 |
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11.1.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 6/7

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4090 — West LB/Odewald/ASH)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2006/C 6/04)

(Text with EEA relevance)

| 1. | On 3 January 2006, 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 WestLB AG (‘WestLB’, Germany) and Odewald & Compagnie Gesellschaft für Beteiligungen mbH (‘Odewald’, Germany) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking ASH Automotive Systems Holding GmbH (‘ASH’, Germany), holding company of the Westfalia group, by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture. |
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1.

On 3 January 2006, 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 WestLB AG (‘WestLB’, Germany) and Odewald & Compagnie Gesellschaft für Beteiligungen mbH (‘Odewald’, Germany) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking ASH Automotive Systems Holding GmbH (‘ASH’, Germany), holding company of the Westfalia group, by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture.

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






  — | for WestLB: international universal bank; |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for WestLB: international universal bank;

| — | for Odewald: investment funds; |
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for Odewald: investment funds;

| — | for ASH: development, manufacturing and distribution of tow bars and related products (electrical systems) for cars. |
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for ASH: development, manufacturing and distribution of tow bars and related products (electrical systems) for cars.

| 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.4090 — West LB/Odewald/ASH, to the following address:





  European Commission |
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| Competition DG |
| 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.4090 — West LB/Odewald/ASH, to the following address:

European Commission

Competition DG

Merger Registry

J-70

B-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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