# C_2012135EN.01002101.xml

| 9.5.2012 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 135/21 |
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9.5.2012

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 135/21

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.6454 — Limagrain/KWS/Genective JV)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

2012/C 135/10

| 1. | On 25 April 2012, 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 Vilmorin & Cie SA (‘VCO’, France) controlled by Groupe Limagrain Holding (‘Limagrain’, France) and KWS SAAT AG (‘KWS’, Germany) acquire, within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation, joint control of Genective SA (‘Genective’, France) by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 25 April 2012, 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 Vilmorin & Cie SA (‘VCO’, France) controlled by Groupe Limagrain Holding (‘Limagrain’, France) and KWS SAAT AG (‘KWS’, Germany) acquire, within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation, joint control of Genective SA (‘Genective’, France) by way of purchase of shares.

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






  — | for Limagrain: agro-industrial activities including field seeds, vegetable seeds and cereal products, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for Limagrain: agro-industrial activities including field seeds, vegetable seeds and cereal products,

| — | for VCO: research, breeding, production and sale of seeds to the professional sector, |
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for VCO: research, breeding, production and sale of seeds to the professional sector,

| — | for KWS: research, breeding, production and sales of seed for agricultural crops, |
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for KWS: research, breeding, production and sales of seed for agricultural crops,

| — | for Genective: research and development of pre-commercial events containing one or more transgenic traits and licensing such these events. |
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for Genective: research and development of pre-commercial events containing one or more transgenic traits and licensing such these events.

| 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.6454 — Limagrain/KWS/Genective JV, to the following address:





  European Commission |
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| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| J-70 |
| 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 COMP/M.6454 — Limagrain/KWS/Genective JV, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

1049 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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