# C_2013197EN.01001601.xml

| 10.7.2013 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 197/16 |
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10.7.2013

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 197/16

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.6972 — BC Partners/Springer Science + Business Media)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

2013/C 197/05

| 1. | On 3 July 2013, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking BC European Capital IX (‘BC Fund’, UK) acting by its general partner CIE Management IX Limited (‘CIE IX’, UK) and ultimately controlled by BC Partners Holdings Limited (‘BC Partners Holdings’, UK) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control over the undertaking Springer Science + Business Media AG (‘SSBM’, Germany), by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 3 July 2013, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking BC European Capital IX (‘BC Fund’, UK) acting by its general partner CIE Management IX Limited (‘CIE IX’, UK) and ultimately controlled by BC Partners Holdings Limited (‘BC Partners Holdings’, UK) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control over the undertaking Springer Science + Business Media AG (‘SSBM’, Germany), by way of purchase of shares.

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






  — | BC Partners Holdings acts as holding company of BC private equity funds, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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BC Partners Holdings acts as holding company of BC private equity funds,

| — | SSBM is active in the market for publishing of academic and professional books and journals in scientific, technical and medical fields. |
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SSBM is active in the market for publishing of academic and professional books and journals in scientific, technical and medical fields.

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the EC Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under the EC Merger Regulation (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 the EC Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under the EC Merger Regulation (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 (+32 22964301), by email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.6972 — BC Partners/Springer Science + Business Media, to the following address:





  European Commission |
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| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| Place Madou 1 |
| 1210 Bruxelles/Brussel |
| BELGIQUE/BELGIË |

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 (+32 22964301), by email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.6972 — BC Partners/Springer Science + Business Media, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

Place Madou 1

1210 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

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(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘EC Merger Regulation’).

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(2)  OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32 (‘Notice on a simplified procedure’).

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