# C_2005038EN.01001401.xml

| 15.2.2005 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 38/14 |
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15.2.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 38/14

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3643 — SEPHORA/EL CORTE INGLES/JV)

(2005/C 38/13)

(Text with EEA relevance)

| 1. | On 7 February 2005, 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 Sephora S.A. (‘Sephora’, France), a subsidiary of the group LVMH – Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, ultimately controlled by the group Arnault S.A.S., and El Corte Inglés S.A. (‘El Corte Inglés’, Spain), acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of a newly created company constituting a joint venture (‘JV’), by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 7 February 2005, 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 Sephora S.A. (‘Sephora’, France), a subsidiary of the group LVMH – Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, ultimately controlled by the group Arnault S.A.S., and El Corte Inglés S.A. (‘El Corte Inglés’, Spain), acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of a newly created company constituting a joint venture (‘JV’), by way of purchase of shares.

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






  — | for Sephora: production, distribution and sale of its own brand cosmetics and distribution and sale of luxury cosmetics products, in specialised retail stores throughout the EU, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for Sephora: production, distribution and sale of its own brand cosmetics and distribution and sale of luxury cosmetics products, in specialised retail stores throughout the EU,

| — | for El Corte Inglés: retail stores (supermarkets, clothing stores) and other services (travel agency, insurance), mainly in Spain, |
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for El Corte Inglés: retail stores (supermarkets, clothing stores) and other services (travel agency, insurance), mainly in Spain,

| — | for JV: exploitation of retail specialised cosmetic shops in Spain previously solely owned by Sephora. |
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for JV: exploitation of retail specialised cosmetic shops in Spain previously solely owned by Sephora.

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. 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 of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. 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 (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.3643 — SEPHORA/EL CORTE INGLES/JV, to the following address:





  European Commission |
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| Directorate-General for Competition, |
| Merger Registry |
| J-70 |
| B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel |

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 (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.3643 — SEPHORA/EL CORTE INGLES/JV, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition,

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

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(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

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