# C_2013343EN.01002001.xml

| 23.11.2013 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 343/20 |
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23.11.2013

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 343/20

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.7079 — Bulgaria Airways Group/Swissport International/Swissport Bulgaria)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

2013/C 343/09

| 1. | On 18 November 2013, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Bulgarian Airways Group EAD (‘BAG’, Bulgaria) and Swissport International AG (‘Swissport’, Switzerland) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of Swissport Bulgaria AD (‘Swissport Bulgaria’, Bulgaria) by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 18 November 2013, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Bulgarian Airways Group EAD (‘BAG’, Bulgaria) and Swissport International AG (‘Swissport’, Switzerland) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of Swissport Bulgaria AD (‘Swissport Bulgaria’, Bulgaria) by way of purchase of shares.

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






  — | BAG's core business consists of international and domestic air transport of passengers and cargo as well as related activities. It controls the airline Bulgaria Air AD. BAG is ultimately controlled by the Chim Invest Institute, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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BAG's core business consists of international and domestic air transport of passengers and cargo as well as related activities. It controls the airline Bulgaria Air AD. BAG is ultimately controlled by the Chim Invest Institute,

| — | Swissport is a provider of airport ground handling, cargo handling and related services to airlines. Swissport is owned and controlled by PAI partners SAS, |
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Swissport is a provider of airport ground handling, cargo handling and related services to airlines. Swissport is owned and controlled by PAI partners SAS,

| — | Swissport Bulgaria is a provider of ground handling, cargo handling, and related services to airlines at the Letishte Sofia-Vrazhdebna airport in Sofia. |
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Swissport Bulgaria is a provider of ground handling, cargo handling, and related services to airlines at the Letishte Sofia-Vrazhdebna airport in Sofia.

| 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.7079 — Bulgaria Airways Group/Swissport International/Swissport Bulgaria, 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 email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.7079 — Bulgaria Airways Group/Swissport International/Swissport Bulgaria, 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 ‘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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