# C_2014087EN.01001401.xml

| 26.3.2014 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 87/14 |
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26.3.2014

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 87/14

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.7178 — Suntory/Beam)

(Text with EEA relevance)

2014/C 87/09

| 1. | On 17 March 2014, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Suntory Holdings Limited (‘Suntory’, Japan) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of the whole of Beam Inc. (Beam, U.S.A) by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 17 March 2014, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Suntory Holdings Limited (‘Suntory’, Japan) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of the whole of Beam Inc. (Beam, U.S.A) by way of purchase of shares.

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






  — | Suntory: production and sale of non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, including spirits such as Scotch and Japanese whiskies, cognac and liqueurs, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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Suntory: production and sale of non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, including spirits such as Scotch and Japanese whiskies, cognac and liqueurs,

| — | Beam: production and sale of spirits, including Scotch whisky, bourbon whisky, cognac and liqueurs. |
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Beam: production and sale of spirits, including Scotch whisky, bourbon whisky, cognac and liqueurs.

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope the 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 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.7178 — Suntory/Beam, to the following address:





  European Commission |
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| 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 e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.7178 — Suntory/Beam, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

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

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