# C_2016228EN.01000201.xml

| 24.6.2016 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 228/2 |
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24.6.2016

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 228/2

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.8080 — Maxburg II/VREP/Norafin)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2016/C 228/02)

| 1. | On 16 June 2016, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertakings Maxburg Beteiligungen II GmbH & Co. KG (‘Maxburg II’, Germany), belonging to the RAG-Stiftung group (‘RAG’, Germany), and VR Equitypartner GmbH (‘VREP’, Germany), belonging to DZ Bank AG group (‘DZ Bank group’, Germany), acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Norafin Verwaltungs GmbH including its operational subsidiaries (‘Norafin’, Germany), by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 16 June 2016, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertakings Maxburg Beteiligungen II GmbH & Co. KG (‘Maxburg II’, Germany), belonging to the RAG-Stiftung group (‘RAG’, Germany), and VR Equitypartner GmbH (‘VREP’, Germany), belonging to DZ Bank AG group (‘DZ Bank group’, Germany), acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Norafin Verwaltungs GmbH including its operational subsidiaries (‘Norafin’, Germany), by way of purchase of shares.

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   for Maxburg II: private equity firm investing primarily in medium-sized companies in German-speaking countries. Maxburg II belongs to the RAG, which is essentially active in coal mining, chemistry and real estate businesses. RAG is the main shareholder of Evonik Industries AG (Germany) which produces and sells specialty chemicals and high-performance materials,
  —   for VREP: private equity firm investing primarily in interests in medium-sized companies in German-speaking countries. VREP belongs to the DZ BANK group which serves as a central bank for its shareholders (cooperative banks) but is also active as a corporate bank,
  —   for Norafin: development, production and distribution of engineered fabrics, specialty and technical nonwovens and composites. |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for Maxburg II: private equity firm investing primarily in medium-sized companies in German-speaking countries. Maxburg II belongs to the RAG, which is essentially active in coal mining, chemistry and real estate businesses. RAG is the main shareholder of Evonik Industries AG (Germany) which produces and sells specialty chemicals and high-performance materials,

for Maxburg II

—   for VREP: private equity firm investing primarily in interests in medium-sized companies in German-speaking countries. VREP belongs to the DZ BANK group which serves as a central bank for its shareholders (cooperative banks) but is also active as a corporate bank,

for VREP

—   for Norafin: development, production and distribution of engineered fabrics, specialty and technical nonwovens and composites.

for Norafin

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the 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 Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in this Notice. |
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3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the 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 Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in this 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 M.8080 — Maxburg II/VREP/Norafin, 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 M.8080 — Maxburg II/VREP/Norafin, 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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(2)  OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.

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