# C_2006067EN.01002901.xml

| 18.3.2006 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 67/29 |
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18.3.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 67/29

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4181 — Blackstone/Center Parcs (UK) Group)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2006/C 67/10)

(Text with EEA relevance)

| 1. | On 10 March 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 Blackstone Group (‘Blackstone’, USA) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Center Parcs (UK) Group Plc (‘Center Parcs UK’, UK) by way of public bid announced on 9 March 2006. |
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1.

On 10 March 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 Blackstone Group (‘Blackstone’, USA) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Center Parcs (UK) Group Plc (‘Center Parcs UK’, UK) by way of public bid announced on 9 March 2006.

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






  — | for Blackstone: private merchant banking, financial advisory services, private equity investing and property investment; |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for Blackstone: private merchant banking, financial advisory services, private equity investing and property investment;

| — | for Center Parcs UK: operates four residential holiday villages in the UK and one spa in the UK. |
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for Center Parcs UK: operates four residential holiday villages in the UK and one spa in the UK.

| 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.4181 — Blackstone/Center Parcs (UK) Group, 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.4181 — Blackstone/Center Parcs (UK) Group, 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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