# C_2004263EN.01000601.xml

| 26.10.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 263/6 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

26.10.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 263/6

---

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3601 — APAX/CINVEN/WORLD DIRECTORIES)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2004/C 263/04)

(Text with EEA relevance)

| 1. | On 20 October 2004, 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 Apax Europe V controlled by the Hirzell Trust (‘Apax’, Guernsey) and Cinven Limited belonging to the Cinven group (‘Cinven’, UK) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking VNU World Directories Inc. (‘World Directories’, US) by way of purchase of shares. |
| --- | --- |

1.

On 20 October 2004, 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 Apax Europe V controlled by the Hirzell Trust (‘Apax’, Guernsey) and Cinven Limited belonging to the Cinven group (‘Cinven’, UK) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking VNU World Directories Inc. (‘World Directories’, US) by way of purchase of shares.

1

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






  — | for undertaking Apax: investment funds, |
| --- | --- | --- |

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

for undertaking Apax: investment funds,

| — | for undertaking Cinven: venture capital business, |
| --- | --- |

—

for undertaking Cinven: venture capital business,

| — | for World Directories: publication of yellow pages directories and telephone books in printed, on-line and mobile phone format. |
| --- | --- |

—

for World Directories: publication of yellow pages directories and telephone books in printed, on-line and mobile phone format.

| 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. 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 the Notice. |
| --- | --- |

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. 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 the Notice.

2

| 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 (fax No +32/2/2964301 or 2967244) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.3601 — Apax/Cinven/World Directories, to the following address:





  European Commission |
| --- | --- |
| 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 (fax No +32/2/2964301 or 2967244) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.3601 — Apax/Cinven/World Directories, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition,

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

---

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

1

(2)  Available on DG COMP website:

2

http://europa.eu.int/comm/competition/mergers/legislation/consultation/simplified_tru.pdf.

---