# C_2006105EN.01001001.xml

| 4.5.2006 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 105/10 |
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4.5.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 105/10

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4203 — Bayerngas/Deutsche Essent/Novogate JV)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2006/C 105/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

| 1. | On 21 April 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 Bayerngas GmbH (‘Bayerngas’, Germany) and Deutsche Essent GmbH (‘Deutsche Essent’, Germany) controlled by Essent N.V. (Netherlands) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking novogate GmbH (‘Novogate’, Germany) by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture. |
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1.

On 21 April 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 Bayerngas GmbH (‘Bayerngas’, Germany) and Deutsche Essent GmbH (‘Deutsche Essent’, Germany) controlled by Essent N.V. (Netherlands) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking novogate GmbH (‘Novogate’, Germany) 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 undertaking Bayerngas: procurement, transportation and sale of natural gas; |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for undertaking Bayerngas: procurement, transportation and sale of natural gas;

| — | for undertaking Deutsche Essent: transportation and storage of natural gas, arrangement of gas trading contracts; |
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for undertaking Deutsche Essent: transportation and storage of natural gas, arrangement of gas trading contracts;

| — | for undertaking Novogate: supply of natural gas, gas-related consulting services. |
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for undertaking Novogate: supply of natural gas, gas-related consulting services.

| 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.4203 — Bayerngas/Deutsche Essent/Novogate JV, 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.4203 — Bayerngas/Deutsche Essent/Novogate JV, 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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