# C_2012231EN.01000401.xml

| 2.8.2012 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 231/4 |
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2.8.2012

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 231/4

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.6663 — Ryanair/Aer Lingus III)

(Text with EEA relevance)

2012/C 231/04

| 1. | On 24 July 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 undertaking Ryanair Holdings plc (‘Ryanair’, Ireland) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of Aer Lingus Group plc (‘Aer Lingus’, Ireland) by way of public bid announced on 19 June 2012. |
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1.

On 24 July 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 undertaking Ryanair Holdings plc (‘Ryanair’, Ireland) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of Aer Lingus Group plc (‘Aer Lingus’, Ireland) by way of public bid announced on 19 June 2012.

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






  — | for Ryanair: low cost airline operating point-to-point scheduled passenger air transport services essentially in Europe, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for Ryanair: low cost airline operating point-to-point scheduled passenger air transport services essentially in Europe,

| — | for Aer Lingus: former Irish flag carrier which was privatized in 2006. It operates essentially on European and transatlantic routes. |
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for Aer Lingus: former Irish flag carrier which was privatized in 2006. It operates essentially on European and transatlantic routes.

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope the EC Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. |
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3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope the EC Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

| 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 e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.6663 — Ryanair/Aer Lingus III, 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 e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.6663 — Ryanair/Aer Lingus III, 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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