# C_2014047EN.01000901.xml

| 19.2.2014 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 47/9 |
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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.7056 — USS/BA/EasyJet/Monarch/Crown Shareholder/NATS)

(Text with EEA relevance)

2014/C 47/09

| 1. | On 11 February 2014, 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 Universities Superannuation Scheme Limited (‘USS’, United Kingdom) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation indirect joint control of the undertaking NATS, together with British Airways (‘BA’), EasyJet, Monarch and the Crown Shareholder, all United Kingdom, by way of purchase of shares. |
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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
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USS is the sole corporate trustee of the Universities Superannuation Scheme, which is one of the largest private sector pension funds in the UK. The scheme administers the principal pension scheme for academic and comparable staff in UK universities and other higher education and research institutions, —
BA is active in the provision of air transport of passengers and freight services, —
EasyJet is active in the provision of scheduled air services, —
Monarch is active in the provision of scheduled and charter air transport of passengers services, —
The Crown Shareholder is the Secretary of State for the Department for Transport of the United Kingdom, which has responsibility for setting national aviation policy, —
NATS provides ‘en route’ air traffic services in UK airspace and airspace managed by the UK in accordance with the terms of a licence issued by the UK Secretary of State for Transport. NATS also provides ‘airport traffic services’ and a range of other services such as consultancy and training. | — | USS is the sole corporate trustee of the Universities Superannuation Scheme, which is one of the largest private sector pension funds in the UK. The scheme administers the principal pension scheme for academic and comparable staff in UK universities and other higher education and research institutions, | — | BA is active in the provision of air transport of passengers and freight services, | — | EasyJet is active in the provision of scheduled air services, | — | Monarch is active in the provision of scheduled and charter air transport of passengers services, | — | The Crown Shareholder is the Secretary of State for the Department for Transport of the United Kingdom, which has responsibility for setting national aviation policy, | — | NATS provides ‘en route’ air traffic services in UK airspace and airspace managed by the UK in accordance with the terms of a licence issued by the UK Secretary of State for Transport. NATS also provides ‘airport traffic services’ and a range of other services such as consultancy and training. |
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| — | USS is the sole corporate trustee of the Universities Superannuation Scheme, which is one of the largest private sector pension funds in the UK. The scheme administers the principal pension scheme for academic and comparable staff in UK universities and other higher education and research institutions, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| — | BA is active in the provision of air transport of passengers and freight services, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| — | EasyJet is active in the provision of scheduled air services, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| — | Monarch is active in the provision of scheduled and charter air transport of passengers services, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| — | The Crown Shareholder is the Secretary of State for the Department for Transport of the United Kingdom, which has responsibility for setting national aviation policy, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| — | NATS provides ‘en route’ air traffic services in UK airspace and airspace managed by the UK in accordance with the terms of a licence issued by the UK Secretary of State for Transport. NATS also provides ‘airport traffic services’ and a range of other services such as consultancy and training. | | | | | | | | | | | | |

| 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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| 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.7056 — USS/BA/EasyJet/Monarch/Crown Shareholder/NATS, to the following address:
European Commission Directorate-General for Competition Merger Registry 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel BELGIQUE/BELGIË | European Commission | Directorate-General for Competition | Merger Registry | 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel | BELGIQUE/BELGIË |
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| 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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