# C_2008169EN.01001501.xml

| 4.7.2008 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 169/15 |
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4.7.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 169/15

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.5139 — Empik/HDS/JV)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2008/C 169/07)

| 1. | On 27 June 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 EMPIK Spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością (‘Empik’, Poland) belonging to the Eastbridge SARL group (‘Eastbridge’, Luxembourg) and HDS Polska Spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością (‘HDS’, Poland), belonging to the Lagardère Services SA group (‘Lagardère’, France) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking Empik Cafe Spółka (‘Empik Cafe’, Poland), by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture. |
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1.

On 27 June 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 EMPIK Spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością (‘Empik’, Poland) belonging to the Eastbridge SARL group (‘Eastbridge’, Luxembourg) and HDS Polska Spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością (‘HDS’, Poland), belonging to the Lagardère Services SA group (‘Lagardère’, France) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking Empik Cafe Spółka (‘Empik Cafe’, Poland), 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 Lagardère: travel retail, high street retail and press distribution, media, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for Lagardère: travel retail, high street retail and press distribution, media,

| — | for HDS: press wholesaling, retail of press, books and other media, coffee bars in Poland, |
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for HDS: press wholesaling, retail of press, books and other media, coffee bars in Poland,

| — | for Empik: education, fashion, children's products, perfumeries, media distribution and coffee bars (in Poland), |
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for Empik: education, fashion, children's products, perfumeries, media distribution and coffee bars (in Poland),

| — | for Empik Cafe: coffee bars in Poland. |
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for Empik Cafe: coffee bars in Poland.

| 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.5139 — Empik/HDS/JV, 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.5139 — Empik/HDS/JV, 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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