# C_2012353EN.01000701.xml

| 17.11.2012 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 353/7 |
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17.11.2012

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 353/7

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.6779 — Barclays/Goldman Sachs/TPG/Gardman)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

2012/C 353/05

| 1. | On 9 November 2012, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Barclays Bank PLC (‘Barclays’, UK), the Goldman Sachs Group (‘Goldman Sachs’, US) and TPG Lundy Co L.P. (‘TPG Lundy’, UK) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of Gardman Holding Limited (‘Gardman’, UK). |
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1.

On 9 November 2012, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Barclays Bank PLC (‘Barclays’, UK), the Goldman Sachs Group (‘Goldman Sachs’, US) and TPG Lundy Co L.P. (‘TPG Lundy’, UK) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of Gardman Holding Limited (‘Gardman’, UK).

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






  — | for Barclays: the provision of financial services such as personal banking, credit cards, corporate investment banking and wealth and investment management services, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for Barclays: the provision of financial services such as personal banking, credit cards, corporate investment banking and wealth and investment management services,

| — | for Goldman Sachs: the provision of financial services as a global investment banking, securities and investment management firm, |
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for Goldman Sachs: the provision of financial services as a global investment banking, securities and investment management firm,

| — | for TPG: the management of funds that invest in a variety of companies through acquisitions and corporate restructurings, |
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for TPG: the management of funds that invest in a variety of companies through acquisitions and corporate restructurings,

| — | for Gardman: the wholesale and distribution of gardening and wild bird care products and some pet care products. |
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for Gardman: the wholesale and distribution of gardening and wild bird care products and some pet care products.

| 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.6779 — Barclays/Goldman Sachs/TPG/Gardman, 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.6779 — Barclays/Goldman Sachs/TPG/Gardman, 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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