# C_2008188EN.01005801.xml

| 25.7.2008 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 188/58 |
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25.7.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 188/58

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.5260 — BNP Paribas Assurance/Chomette/Sophia GE/Capital France Hôtel)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2008/C 188/09)

| 1. | On 16 July 2008, 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 BNP Paribas Assurance SA (‘BNPP Assurance’, France) belonging to the BNP Paribas SA group (‘BNPP’, France), Sophia GE SA (‘Sophia GE’, France) belonging to the General Electric Company Inc. group (‘GE’, USA) and Mr Jean-Philippe Chomette (‘Chomette’, France) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking Capital France Hôtel SCF (‘CFH’, France) by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 16 July 2008, 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 BNP Paribas Assurance SA (‘BNPP Assurance’, France) belonging to the BNP Paribas SA group (‘BNPP’, France), Sophia GE SA (‘Sophia GE’, France) belonging to the General Electric Company Inc. group (‘GE’, USA) and Mr Jean-Philippe Chomette (‘Chomette’, France) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking Capital France Hôtel SCF (‘CFH’, France) by way of purchase of shares.

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






  — | for BNP Paribas Assurance: provision of insurance services, notably savings, protection and property and casualty insurance, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for BNP Paribas Assurance: provision of insurance services, notably savings, protection and property and casualty insurance,

| — | for BNP Paribas: worldwide banking and financial activities, in particular, investment and financial banking, retail banking and asset management, |
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for BNP Paribas: worldwide banking and financial activities, in particular, investment and financial banking, retail banking and asset management,

| — | for Sophia GE: ownership and management of commercial real estate mainly located in France, |
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for Sophia GE: ownership and management of commercial real estate mainly located in France,

| — | for GE: a diversified company active in various fields such as manufacturing, technology and services, |
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for GE: a diversified company active in various fields such as manufacturing, technology and services,

| — | for Chomette: a private investor controlling Algonquin SA, a Belgian investment company holding stakes in small- and medium-sized enterprises, |
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for Chomette: a private investor controlling Algonquin SA, a Belgian investment company holding stakes in small- and medium-sized enterprises,

| — | for CFH: ownership and management of hotel properties in urban locations in France. |
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for CFH: ownership and management of hotel properties in urban locations in France.

| 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 ((32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.5260 — BNP Paribas Assurance/Chomette/Sophia GE/Capital France Hôtel, to the following address:





  European Commission |
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| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| J-70 |
| B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel |

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 ((32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.5260 — BNP Paribas Assurance/Chomette/Sophia GE/Capital France Hôtel, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

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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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