# Official Journal C 331/2015

| | ISSN 1977-091X |
| --- | --- |
| Official Journal
  of the European Union | C 331 |
| | |
| English edition | Information and Notices | Volume 588 October 2015 |

ISSN 1977-091X

Official Journal

of the European Union

C 331

English edition

Information and Notices

Volume 588 October 2015

---

| Notice No | Contents | page |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | II   Information |
| | INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES |
| | European Commission |
| 2015/C 331/01 | Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.7705 — Benson Elliot/Walton Street/Starwood/Hotel Portfolio) (
  1
  ) | 1 |
| 2015/C 331/02 | Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.7755 — Mahindra/MHI/MAM) (
  1
  ) | 1 |

Notice No

Contents

page

II   Information

INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

2015/C 331/01

Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.7705 — Benson Elliot/Walton Street/Starwood/Hotel Portfolio) (
  1
  )

1

1

2015/C 331/02

Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.7755 — Mahindra/MHI/MAM) (
  1
  )

1

1

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| | IV   Notices |
| --- | --- |
| | NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES |
| | European Commission |
| 2015/C 331/03 | Euro exchange rates | 2 |
| | NOTICES FROM MEMBER STATES |
| 2015/C 331/04 | Commission notice pursuant to Article 16(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules for the operation of air services in the Community — Invitations to tender in respect of the operation of scheduled air services in accordance with public service obligations (
  1
  ) | 3 |
| 2015/C 331/05 | Communication from the Minister for Economic Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands pursuant to Article 3(2) of Directive 94/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the conditions for granting and using authorisations for the prospection, exploration and production of hydrocarbons | 4 |
| | NOTICES CONCERNING THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA |
| | EFTA Surveillance Authority |
| 2015/C 331/06 | State aid — Decision to raise no objections | 5 |

IV   Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

2015/C 331/03

Euro exchange rates

2

NOTICES FROM MEMBER STATES

2015/C 331/04

Commission notice pursuant to Article 16(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules for the operation of air services in the Community — Invitations to tender in respect of the operation of scheduled air services in accordance with public service obligations (
  1
  )

1

3

2015/C 331/05

Communication from the Minister for Economic Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands pursuant to Article 3(2) of Directive 94/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the conditions for granting and using authorisations for the prospection, exploration and production of hydrocarbons

4

NOTICES CONCERNING THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA

EFTA Surveillance Authority

2015/C 331/06

State aid — Decision to raise no objections

5

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| | V   Announcements |
| --- | --- |
| | PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY |
| | European Commission |
| 2015/C 331/07 | Publication of a list of measures considered by the Commission as existing aid, within the meaning of Article 108(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, upon accession of Croatia to the European Union (
  1
  ) | 6 |
| 2015/C 331/08 | Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.7706 — Kinnevik/Qliro Group) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (
  1
  ) | 7 |
| | OTHER ACTS |
| | European Commission |
| 2015/C 331/09 | Publication of an application pursuant to Article 50(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs | 8 |

V   Announcements

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY

European Commission

2015/C 331/07

Publication of a list of measures considered by the Commission as existing aid, within the meaning of Article 108(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, upon accession of Croatia to the European Union (
  1
  )

1

6

2015/C 331/08

Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.7706 — Kinnevik/Qliro Group) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (
  1
  )

1

7

OTHER ACTS

European Commission

2015/C 331/09

Publication of an application pursuant to Article 50(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs

8

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| | |
| --- | --- |
| | (1)   Text with EEA relevance |

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(1)   Text with EEA relevance

1

| EN | |
| --- | --- |

EN

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II Information

INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

| 8.10.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 331/1 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

8.10.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 331/1

---

Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case M.7705 — Benson Elliot/Walton Street/Starwood/Hotel Portfolio)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 331/01)

On 2 October 2015, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the internal market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1). The full text of the decision is available only in English language and will be made public after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

| — | in the merger section of the Competition website of the Commission (http://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/). This website provides various facilities to help locate individual merger decisions, including company, case number, date and sectoral indexes, |
| --- | --- |

—

in the merger section of the Competition website of the Commission (http://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/). This website provides various facilities to help locate individual merger decisions, including company, case number, date and sectoral indexes,

| — | in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/homepage.html?locale=en) under document number 32015M7705. EUR-Lex is the online access to the European law. |
| --- | --- |

—

in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/homepage.html?locale=en) under document number 32015M7705. EUR-Lex is the online access to the European law.

---

(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

---

| 8.10.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 331/1 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

8.10.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 331/1

---

Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case M.7755 — Mahindra/MHI/MAM)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 331/02)

On 11 September 2015, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the internal market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1). The full text of the decision is available only in the English language and will be made public after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

| — | in the merger section of the Competition website of the Commission (http://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/). This website provides various facilities to help locate individual merger decisions, including company, case number, date and sectoral indexes, |
| --- | --- |

—

in the merger section of the Competition website of the Commission (http://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/). This website provides various facilities to help locate individual merger decisions, including company, case number, date and sectoral indexes,

| — | in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/homepage.html?locale=en) under document number 32015M7755. EUR-Lex is the online access to the European law. |
| --- | --- |

—

in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/homepage.html?locale=en) under document number 32015M7755. EUR-Lex is the online access to the European law.

---

(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

---

IV Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

| 8.10.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 331/2 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

8.10.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 331/2

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Euro exchange rates (1)

7 October 2015

(2015/C 331/03)

1 euro =

| | Currency | Exchange rate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| USD | US dollar | 1,1266 |
| JPY | Japanese yen | 135,30 |
| DKK | Danish krone | 7,4615 |
| GBP | Pound sterling | 0,73580 |
| SEK | Swedish krona | 9,2924 |
| CHF | Swiss franc | 1,0882 |
| ISK | Iceland króna | |
| NOK | Norwegian krone | 9,2580 |
| BGN | Bulgarian lev | 1,9558 |
| CZK | Czech koruna | 27,099 |
| HUF | Hungarian forint | 312,17 |
| PLN | Polish zloty | 4,2300 |
| RON | Romanian leu | 4,4174 |
| TRY | Turkish lira | 3,2997 |
| AUD | Australian dollar | 1,5586 |
| CAD | Canadian dollar | 1,4649 |
| HKD | Hong Kong dollar | 8,7312 |
| NZD | New Zealand dollar | 1,6966 |
| SGD | Singapore dollar | 1,5870 |
| KRW | South Korean won | 1 299,71 |
| ZAR | South African rand | 15,0690 |
| CNY | Chinese yuan renminbi | 7,1621 |
| HRK | Croatian kuna | 7,6095 |
| IDR | Indonesian rupiah | 15 492,07 |
| MYR | Malaysian ringgit | 4,7400 |
| PHP | Philippine peso | 51,829 |
| RUB | Russian rouble | 69,9561 |
| THB | Thai baht | 40,401 |
| BRL | Brazilian real | 4,3238 |
| MXN | Mexican peso | 18,6678 |
| INR | Indian rupee | 73,1140 |

Currency

Exchange rate

USD

US dollar

1,1266

JPY

Japanese yen

135,30

DKK

Danish krone

7,4615

GBP

Pound sterling

0,73580

SEK

Swedish krona

9,2924

CHF

Swiss franc

1,0882

ISK

Iceland króna

NOK

Norwegian krone

9,2580

BGN

Bulgarian lev

1,9558

CZK

Czech koruna

27,099

HUF

Hungarian forint

312,17

PLN

Polish zloty

4,2300

RON

Romanian leu

4,4174

TRY

Turkish lira

3,2997

AUD

Australian dollar

1,5586

CAD

Canadian dollar

1,4649

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

8,7312

NZD

New Zealand dollar

1,6966

SGD

Singapore dollar

1,5870

KRW

South Korean won

1 299,71

ZAR

South African rand

15,0690

CNY

Chinese yuan renminbi

7,1621

HRK

Croatian kuna

7,6095

IDR

Indonesian rupiah

15 492,07

MYR

Malaysian ringgit

4,7400

PHP

Philippine peso

51,829

RUB

Russian rouble

69,9561

THB

Thai baht

40,401

BRL

Brazilian real

4,3238

MXN

Mexican peso

18,6678

INR

Indian rupee

73,1140

---

(1)  Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.

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NOTICES FROM MEMBER STATES

| 8.10.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 331/3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

8.10.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 331/3

---

Commission notice pursuant to Article 16(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules for the operation of air services in the Community

Invitations to tender in respect of the operation of scheduled air services in accordance with public service obligations

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 331/04)

| Member State | France |
| --- | --- |
| Routes concerned | Strasbourg-Amsterdam
  Strasbourg-Madrid
  Strasbourg-Prague |
| Period of validity of the contract | from 9 April 2016 to 8 April 2019 |
| Deadline for the submission of applications and tenders | 10 December 2015 by 17.00 Paris time (France) |
| Address where the text of the invitation to tender and any relevant information and/or documentation relating to the public tender and the public service obligations can be obtained | Direction de la Sécurité de l’Aviation civile Nord-Est |
| Aéroport de Strasbourg-Entzheim |
| CS 60003 Entzheim |
| 67836 Tanneries Cedex |
| FRANCE |
| Tel. +33 388596464 |
| E-mail: dsac-ne.direction@aviation-civile.gouv.fr |

Member State

France

Routes concerned

Strasbourg-Amsterdam

Strasbourg-Madrid

Strasbourg-Prague

Period of validity of the contract

from 9 April 2016 to 8 April 2019

Deadline for the submission of applications and tenders

10 December 2015 by 17.00 Paris time (France)

Address where the text of the invitation to tender and any relevant information and/or documentation relating to the public tender and the public service obligations can be obtained

Direction de la Sécurité de l’Aviation civile Nord-Est

Aéroport de Strasbourg-Entzheim

CS 60003 Entzheim

67836 Tanneries Cedex

FRANCE

Tel. +33 388596464

E-mail: dsac-ne.direction@aviation-civile.gouv.fr

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| 8.10.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 331/4 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

8.10.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 331/4

---

Communication from the Minister for Economic Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands pursuant to Article 3(2) of Directive 94/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the conditions for granting and using authorisations for the prospection, exploration and production of hydrocarbons

(2015/C 331/05)

The Minister for Economic Affairs hereby gives notice that an application has been received for authorisation to prospect for hydrocarbons in blocks Q8 and Q11 as indicated on the map appended as Annex 3 to the Mining Order (Mijnbouwregeling) (Government Gazette (Staatscourant) 2002, No 245) and block segment Q10b.

Block segment Q10b is delimited by the great circles between vertex pairs A-B, B-C, C-D, D-E, E-F and A-F.

The vertices are defined as follows:

| Vertex | ° | ′ | ′′ E.L. | ° | ′ | ′′ N.L. |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A | 3 | 59 | 55,139 | 52 | 29 | 57,162 |
| B | 4 | 10 | 55,155 | 52 | 29 | 57,170 |
| C | 4 | 16 | 15,170 | 52 | 25 | 57,166 |
| D | 4 | 19 | 55,176 | 52 | 25 | 57,168 |
| E | 4 | 19 | 55,187 | 52 | 19 | 57,157 |
| F | 3 | 59 | 55,158 | 52 | 19 | 57,143 |

Vertex

°

′

′′ E.L.

°

′

′′ N.L.

A

3

59

55,139

52

29

57,162

B

4

10

55,155

52

29

57,170

C

4

16

15,170

52

25

57,166

D

4

19

55,176

52

25

57,168

E

4

19

55,187

52

19

57,157

F

3

59

55,158

52

19

57,143

The above vertices are defined by their geographical coordinates, calculated according to the ETRS89 system.

Block segment Q10b covers an area of 367 km2.

With reference to the Directive referred to in the introduction and Article 15 of the Mining Act (Mijnbouwwet) (Bulletin of Acts and Decrees (Staatsblad) 2002, No 542), the Minister for Economic Affairs hereby invites interested parties to submit a competing application for authorisation to prospect for hydrocarbons in blocks Q8 and Q11 and block segment Q10b of the Dutch continental shelf.

The Minister for Economic Affairs is the competent authority for the granting of authorisations. The criteria, conditions and requirements referred to in Articles 5(1), 5(2) and 6(2) of the above-mentioned Directive are set out in the Mining Act (Bulletin of Acts and Decrees 2002, No 542).

Applications may be submitted during the 13 weeks following the publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union and should be sent to:

| The Minister for Economic Affairs |
| --- |
| attn.: Ms J.J. van Beek, Energy and Environment Directorate |
| Bezuidenhoutseweg 73 |
| Postbus 20401, |
| 2500 EK Den Haag |
| NEDERLAND |

The Minister for Economic Affairs

attn.: Ms J.J. van Beek, Energy and Environment Directorate

Bezuidenhoutseweg 73

Postbus 20401,

2500 EK Den Haag

NEDERLAND

Applications received after the expiry of this period will not be considered.

A decision on the applications will be taken not later than 12 months after this period has expired.

Further information can be obtained by calling Mr E.J. Hoppel on the following telephone number: +31 703797762.

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NOTICES CONCERNING THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA

EFTA Surveillance Authority

| 8.10.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 331/5 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

8.10.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 331/5

---

State aid — Decision to raise no objections

(2015/C 331/06)

The EFTA Surveillance Authority raises no objections to the following state aid measure:

| Date of adoption of the decision | : | 10 June 2015 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Case number | : | 77232 |
| Decision No | : | 225/15/COL |
| EFTA State | : | Norway |
| Region | : | Oslo |
| Title (and/or name of the beneficiary) | : | Transfer of land to Vålerenga Fotball |
| Legal basis | : | Oslo City Council decisions of 14 May 2008 and 3 September 2014, option agreement of 24 September 2014 |
| Type of measure | : | Transfer of land |
| Objective | : | Sport infrastructure |
| Form of aid | : | Grant |
| Budget | : | NOK 302,1 million (EUR 24,3 million) |
| Intensity | : | 36 % |
| Economic sectors | : | R93.1.1 - Operation of sports facilities
  R93.1.2 - Activities of sport clubs |
| Name and address of the granting authority | : | City of Oslo |
| Postboks 491 Sentrum |
| N-0105 Oslo |
| NORWAY |

Date of adoption of the decision

:

10 June 2015

Case number

:

77232

Decision No

:

225/15/COL

EFTA State

:

Norway

Region

:

Oslo

Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)

:

Transfer of land to Vålerenga Fotball

Legal basis

:

Oslo City Council decisions of 14 May 2008 and 3 September 2014, option agreement of 24 September 2014

Type of measure

:

Transfer of land

Objective

:

Sport infrastructure

Form of aid

:

Grant

Budget

:

NOK 302,1 million (EUR 24,3 million)

Intensity

:

36 %

Economic sectors

:

R93.1.1 - Operation of sports facilities

R93.1.2 - Activities of sport clubs

Name and address of the granting authority

:

City of Oslo

Postboks 491 Sentrum

N-0105 Oslo

NORWAY

Other information

:

Additional NOK 20 million (EUR 2,4 million) of existing aid granted from the lottery funds (Norsk Tipping)

The authentic text of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found on the EFTA Surveillance Authority’s website:

http://www.eftasurv.int/state-aid/state-aid-register/

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V Announcements

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY

European Commission

| 8.10.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 331/6 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

8.10.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 331/6

---

Publication of a list of measures considered by the Commission as existing aid, within the meaning of Article 108(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, upon accession of Croatia to the European Union

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 331/07)

| (1) | In 2012 and 2013, in accordance with the procedure provided for in Annex IV, Chapter 2, paragraph 1 (c) (under Article 16) of the Treaty of Accession of Croatia to the European Union (‘Treaty of Accession’) (1), Croatia submitted to the Commission measures which it found to be compatible with the Union acquis. If the Commission did not raise an objection on the grounds of serious doubts as to the compatibility of the measure with the internal market the measure was regarded, upon accession, as existing aid within the meaning of Article 108(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). |
| --- | --- |

(1)

In 2012 and 2013, in accordance with the procedure provided for in Annex IV, Chapter 2, paragraph 1 (c) (under Article 16) of the Treaty of Accession of Croatia to the European Union (‘Treaty of Accession’) (1), Croatia submitted to the Commission measures which it found to be compatible with the Union acquis. If the Commission did not raise an objection on the grounds of serious doubts as to the compatibility of the measure with the internal market the measure was regarded, upon accession, as existing aid within the meaning of Article 108(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

| (2) | That procedure covered State aid measures to all sectors with the exception of aid granted to activities linked to the production of, and trade in, products listed in Annex I to the TFEU. |
| --- | --- |

(2)

That procedure covered State aid measures to all sectors with the exception of aid granted to activities linked to the production of, and trade in, products listed in Annex I to the TFEU.

| (3) | The Commission published the complete list of measures which it accepted as existing aid within the meaning of Article 108(1) and under the procedure mentioned in point (1) above, on the following internet address: http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/register/. Croatia was informed about the relevant Commission decisions by means of letters from the Commissioner for Competition. |
| --- | --- |

(3)

The Commission published the complete list of measures which it accepted as existing aid within the meaning of Article 108(1) and under the procedure mentioned in point (1) above, on the following internet address: http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/register/. Croatia was informed about the relevant Commission decisions by means of letters from the Commissioner for Competition.

| (4) | The publication referred to in point (3) only lists aid measures covered by the procedure mentioned in point (1) excluding those measures which, upon accession, are also considered as existing aid pursuant Annex IV, Chapter 2, paragraph 1 (a) and (b) of the Treaty of Accession. |
| --- | --- |

(4)

The publication referred to in point (3) only lists aid measures covered by the procedure mentioned in point (1) excluding those measures which, upon accession, are also considered as existing aid pursuant Annex IV, Chapter 2, paragraph 1 (a) and (b) of the Treaty of Accession.

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(1)  OJ L 112, 24.4.2012.

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| 8.10.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 331/7 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

8.10.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 331/7

---

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7706 — Kinnevik/Qliro Group)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 331/08)

| 1. | On 30 September 2015, 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 Investment AB Kinnevik (Sweden, ‘Kinnevik’) ultimately controlled by Verdere Sàrl (Luxembourg, ‘Verdere’), acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Qliro Group AB (Sweden, ‘Qliro’) by way of other means. |
| --- | --- |

1.

On 30 September 2015, 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 Investment AB Kinnevik (Sweden, ‘Kinnevik’) ultimately controlled by Verdere Sàrl (Luxembourg, ‘Verdere’), acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Qliro Group AB (Sweden, ‘Qliro’) by way of other means.

| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   for Kinnevik: private equity investment in various companies active primarily in telecommunications, e-commerce, entertainment and financial services.
  —   for Qliro: e-commerce operator active in online retail sales to consumers of a variety of products, including inter alia, electronics, clothing, workout equipment and children's product. |
| --- | --- |

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for Kinnevik: private equity investment in various companies active primarily in telecommunications, e-commerce, entertainment and financial services.

—   for Qliro: e-commerce operator active in online retail sales to consumers of a variety of products, including inter alia, electronics, clothing, workout equipment and children's product.

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the 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 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 this Notice. |
| --- | --- |

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the 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 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 this Notice.

| 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 M.7706 — Kinnevik/Qliro Group, to the following address:





  European Commission |
| --- | --- |
| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| 1049 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 M.7706 — Kinnevik/Qliro Group, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

---

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

(2)  OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.

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OTHER ACTS

European Commission

| 8.10.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 331/8 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

8.10.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 331/8

---

Publication of an application pursuant to Article 50(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs

(2015/C 331/09)

This publication confers the right to oppose the application pursuant to Article 51 of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1).

SINGLE DOCUMENT

‘JAMBON D’AUVERGNE’

EU No: FR-PGI-0005-01348 — 23.06.2015

PDO ( ) PGI ( X )

1.   Name

‘Jambon d’Auvergne’

2.   Member State or Third Country

Member State or Third Country

France

3.   Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1.   Type of product

Type of product

Class 1.2 Meat products (cooked, salted, smoked, etc.)

3.2.   Description of the product to which the name in (1) applies

Description of the product to which the name in (1) applies

‘Jambon d’Auvergne’ is the hind leg of a meat-producing pig that is dry salted, matured and dried for at least 240 days (eight months) (counted from the date of salting until the end of the maturing stage). Its bone-in weight is at least 6 kg after the maturing stage. It is prepared using a fresh, trimmed hind leg weighing at least 8,5 kg at the point when salt is applied. It is never smoked.

Between the date of salting and the end of the maturing stage, the whole hams must undergo a minimum weight reduction, which is a percentage loss based on the weight of the fresh, trimmed ham:

—   fresh ham weighing between 8,5 and 9,5 kg: minimum loss of 28 %,

fresh ham weighing between 8,5 and 9,5 kg

—   fresh ham weighing between 9,5 and 10,5 kg: minimum loss of 28,5 %,

fresh ham weighing between 9,5 and 10,5 kg

—   fresh ham weighing between 10,5 and 11,5 kg: minimum loss of 29 %,

fresh ham weighing between 10,5 and 11,5 kg

—   fresh ham weighing 11,5 kg and over: minimum loss of 29,5 %.

fresh ham weighing 11,5 kg and over

The other physico-chemical characteristics of ‘Jambon d’Auvergne’ are as follows:

—   water content (in finished product, unpackaged): ≤ 61 %,

water content (in finished product, unpackaged)

—   salt content (with a moisture content of 77 % in the product once the fat has been removed): ≤ 6,5 %,

salt content (with a moisture content of 77 % in the product once the fat has been removed)

—   total soluble sugar content (in finished product, unpackaged): ≤ 0,7 %.

total soluble sugar content (in finished product, unpackaged)

A ‘Jambon d’Auvergne’ ham leg has a rounded shape with a uniform colour and is firm, but not excessively so. Its texture ranges from soft to dry. When eaten, ‘Jambon d’Auvergne’ has a strong flavour that lingers in the mouth. Its aroma and flavour are those typical of dried pork, with hazelnut flavours and possibly slight hints of garlic.

When cut, the slices are uniform, with little covering fat. The lean meat has a uniform colour that is red to dark red, and the fat is also uniform in colour, ranging from white to slightly yellow or pink.

‘Jambon d’Auvergne’ is sold in one of the following forms:

| — | uncovered or packaged, with or without the bone, whole, or as a half, quarter or sixth of a ham, |
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uncovered or packaged, with or without the bone, whole, or as a half, quarter or sixth of a ham,

| — | by the slice and given directly to the consumer, |
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by the slice and given directly to the consumer,

| — | slices sold in vacuum packs or wrapped in controlled-atmosphere packaging. |
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slices sold in vacuum packs or wrapped in controlled-atmosphere packaging.

3.3.   Feed (for products of animal origin only) and raw materials (for processed products only)

Feed (for products of animal origin only) and raw materials (for processed products only)

The fattening feed given to the meat-producing pigs contains at least 60 % cereals, oilseeds and derived products and has a linoleic acid content of less than 1,7 % (in the dry matter).

‘Jambon d’Auvergne’ is produced using fresh hind legs of meat-producing female or castrated male pigs. Uncastrated males, young males that have not yet reached sexual maturity, males castrated of a single testicle, males with cryptorchidism and hermaphrodites are not used.

All animals are identified and traced.

All carcass categories on the Seurop classification are allowed.

The fresh hind leg used to produce ‘Jambon d’Auvergne’ has a rounded shape and is cut at no higher than 6 cm above the head of the femur. After trimming, and ready for salting, the ham weighs at least 8,5 kg, with fat that is at least 10 mm thick at the base.

3.4.   Specific steps in production that must take place in the defined geographical area

Specific steps in production that must take place in the defined geographical area

The production steps for ‘Jambon d’Auvergne’ — from salting to the end of the maturing phase — take place in the geographical area.

3.5.   Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc. of the product to which the registered name refers

Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc. of the product to which the registered name refers

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3.6.   Specific rules concerning labelling of the product to which the registered name refers

Specific rules concerning labelling of the product to which the registered name refers

Along with the name of the protected geographical indication, the words ‘dried ham’ may also appear on the product label. The words ‘dried ham’ must be written in type no more than three quarters the size of the type used for the name of the protected geographical indication.

4.   Concise definition of the geographical area

Concise definition of the geographical area

The geographical area encompasses the territory of the following municipalities:

The departments of Cantal, Haute-Loire and Puy-de-Dôme

Department of Allier: The cantons of Chantelle, Commentry, Cusset-Nord, Cusset-Sud, Ébreuil, Escurolles, Gannat, Huriel, Jaligny-sur-Besbre, Lapalisse, Marcillat-en-Combraille, Le Mayet-de-Montagne, Le Montet, Montmarault, Vichy-Nord and Vichy-Sud. Canton of Bourbon-l’Archambault: the municipalities of Buxières-les-Mines, Saint-Aubin-le-Monial, Saint-Hilaire and Ygrande. Canton of Cérilly: the municipalities of Cérilly, Theneuille, Le Vilhain and Vitray. Canton of Donjon: the municipalities of Avrilly, Le Bouchaud, Le Donjon, Lenax, Loddes, Montaiguët-en-Forez, Montcombroux-les-Mines, Neuilly-en-Donjon and Saint-Didier-en-Donjon. Canton of Hérisson: the municipalities of Bizeneuille, Le Brethon, Givarlais, Louroux-Bourbonnais, Louroux-Hodement, Maillet and Saint-Caprais. Canton of Montluçon-Est: the municipalities of Chamblet, Deneuille-les-Mines, Désertines, Saint-Angel and Verneix. Canton of Montluçon-Ouest: the municipalities of Lamaids, Prémilhat and Quinssaines. Canton of Montluçon-Sud: the municipalities of Lavault-Sainte-Anne, Lignerolles, Néris-les-Bains and Teillet-Argenty. Canton of Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule: the municipalities of Bransat, Cesset, Laféline, Loriges, Louchy-Montfand, Monétay-sur-Allier, Montord, Saulcet and Verneuil-en-Bourbonnais. Canton of Souvigny: the municipalities of Besson, Bresnay, Gipcy, Meillers, Noyant-d’Allier and Souvigny. Canton of Varennes-sur-Allier: the municipalities of Billy, Langy, Magnet, Montaigu-le-Blin, Saint-Félix, Saint-Gérand-le-Puy, Saint-Germain-des-Fossés, Sanssat and Seuillet.

Department of Corrèze: Cantons of Ussel-Est and Ussel-Ouest: all municipalities.

Department of Lot: Municipality of Labastide-du-Haut-Mont.

5.   Link with the geographical area

Link with the geographical area

Specificities of the geographical area

Specificities of the geographical area

The demarcation of the ‘Jambon d’Auvergne’ geographical area is based on an idea of continuity between the places where traditional practices are used, themselves historically influenced by the natural conditions that are conducive to meat-drying, and the locations of meat-curing businesses.

The geographical area is situated on a massif with an average altitude of 1 000 m, comprising high plateaus and volcanic summits interspersed with many valleys. The area has a continental climate that is influenced by the altitude. The wind conditions contribute to a ventilating effect; this encourages the water loss that helps cured meat products to dry. Indeed, given that the rugged terrain runs transversal to the humid air flows coming from the west, strong föhn effects influence the geographical area, particularly further down the massif.

Until the mid-20th century, there was a well-established domestic and farming tradition of rearing pigs and producing pork meat, mainly dry-cured products, as described in a number of literary works.

Production traditionally took place during the winter, so that the products could be consumed over a period spanning the summer, harvest time and around Christmas. As there were no cold storage facilities, it was only thanks to the winter conditions in the cold mid-mountain areas that salting and drying could be done properly. During production and at the beginning of the drying phase, the ham would sometimes be placed by the fireplace, which would activate flavour development without smoking the product. It would then be put in cool ventilated rooms to continue the drying process. Using garlic in the salt made preservation more effective, given garlic’s specific antioxidant properties, and it also helped the flavours of the ham to develop.

Following the agricultural revolution in the 19th century, the techniques for producing dry-cured meat products were slowly taken up and developed by small-scale businesses and then on an industrial scale. More than 15 of the companies currently found inside the geographical area began operations before the Second World War. From 1830 onwards, people began leaving Auvergne for Paris where they worked mainly in brasseries and restaurants. This helped dry-cured meats produced in the geographical area reach a new audience and enhanced their reputation.

Nowadays, dry-cured meats account for 78 % of prepared meat products made in the geographical area, whereas this figure stands at 16 % for the whole of France.

Specificity of the product

Specificity of the product

At the end of the production process, which lasts at least eight months and includes a heat-curing phase and salting with slightly garlicky dry salt, ‘Jambon d’Auvergne’ has a characteristically rounded shape, with a soft to dry texture, which is firm, but not excessively so.

The lean meat, which is red to dark red in colour, is surrounded by a thin layer of covering fat.

Its aroma and flavour, which are typical of dried pork meat, intensify during the maturing phase and feature hazelnut-type flavours, possibly with a hint of garlic.

Causal link

Causal link

The link between the geographical area and ‘Jambon d’Auvergne’ is based on the reputation and specific characteristics of the product.

Farms began producing ‘Jambon d’Auvergne’ due to a range of factors inherent to the geographical area. These included natural factors, with a winter climate and terrain that helped the products to dry (cold average temperatures so that the product could be preserved and mountain ranges that created drying föhn effects), and human factors, with pig rearing developing strongly, thus providing the raw material.

This gave rise to traditional meat-curing practices, which were handed down and widely shared within the geographical area (attention to the heat-curing phase, the addition of garlic to the salt and a maturing phase of at least eight months).

When producing ‘Jambon d’Auvergne’ today, the heat-curing phase mimics the traditional methods and helps to break down and melt the intramuscular fat, which intensifies the ham’s colour and brings out its flavour.

The addition of garlic to the salt, which has its roots in the historical presence of the plant on the plains within the geographical area, is a significant step that is characteristic of the production process and one which marks out ‘Jambon d’Auvergne’ from other dried hams, as it lends the ham a slight flavour of garlic.

The ‘Jambon d’Auvergne’ production process, which lasts at least eight months, is a reflection of the importance of the maturing phase at the end of the process, which brings out all of the characteristic features of the ham.

The reputation of ‘Jambon d’Auvergne’ can be attributed to this meat-curing tradition. The know-how of meat-curers from the Auvergne gave rise to the ham’s characteristic features, which have stood the test of time (firm texture, hazelnut and garlicky flavours).

The ham’s reputation is endorsed by the numerous references to the product in literary works, both old and new. Since the mid-19th century, the many emigrants who left the Auvergne region for Paris or further afield have also helped promote the product.

As early as 1767, the authors of the ‘Gazetin du Comestible’, a mail-order catalogue, offered Parisian gourmets the chance to purchase hams from Arnac in the Cantal department, describing them as ‘highly prized’. Later, in 1834, Briand-de-Verzé revealed that the most highly ‘prized’ hams came from Cantal, particularly from Maurs and Aurillac in Auvergne, and there was significant trade in these products at the time.

More recently, in 1956, a Mr Pallu, the first director of the French Technical Centre for Cured, Prepared and Preserved Meat, attested to the reputation of ‘Jambon d’Auvergne’: ‘cured hams, such as those from Auvergne (...), are frequently delicious’.

On a different note, in the eleventh album of the Asterix the Gaul comic book series called ‘Asterix and the Chieftain’s Shield’, which was published in France in 1968, the authors René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo depicted cured hams hanging from the ceiling of an Auvergne inn to illustrate Auvergne and its speciality foods.

‘Jambon d’Auvergne’ is also mentioned in the books of the Belgian food writer Mr Buren (who wrote the works ‘Pigs’ in 1987 and ‘Ham’ in 1988) and in ‘A History of Food’ by cookery writer Ms M. Toussaint-Samat (1998).

The reputation of ‘Jambon d’Auvergne’ is still very much in evidence today.

For example, the chapter on cured meats in ‘Auvergne — Regional Products and Traditional Recipes’, part of the ‘French Culinary Heritage’ series published by Albin Michel in 2011 notes: ‘Cured meats from Auvergne can be found in markets throughout France and certain products such as ham and sausages are widely distributed, both in specialist shops and on the shelves of a number of supermarkets (...)’.

There are also many references to ‘Jambon d’Auvergne’ on the internet, on cookery and food websites and online stores, for example. This attests to the ham’s reputation, which now extends far beyond the geographical area, as do the products themselves, which are now widely available.

This reputation is also evidenced in other material, such as the brochure of the 2008 edition of the International Agricultural Show, which devoted a page to the Auvergne region, including a photo of hams from Auvergne with the following information: ‘(...) Auvergne has a centuries-old reputation for the quality of (...) its cured meats’. In 2012, the ‘Le Petit Futé’ tourist guidebook on Auvergne referred to ‘Jambon d’Auvergne’ as one of the geographical area’s speciality foods.

Reference to publication of the specification

Reference to publication of the specification

(the second subparagraph of Article 6(1) of this Regulation)

https://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-600f67c7-c5d9-4695-b676-91a86276a8c4

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(1)  OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, p. 1.

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