# C_2004275EN.01000201.xml

| 10.11.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 275/2 |
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10.11.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 275/2

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3597 — Europcar/TUI/JV)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2004/C 275/02)

(Text with EEA relevance)

| 1. | On 29 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 Volkswagen AG (Germany), through its subsidiary Europcar International S.A.S.U. (France), and TUI AG (Germany), acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking ‘Newco’, by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture (‘JV’). |
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1.

On 29 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 Volkswagen AG (Germany), through its subsidiary Europcar International S.A.S.U. (France), and TUI AG (Germany), acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking ‘Newco’, by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture (‘JV’).

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






  — | for Volkswagen AG: development, manufacture and supply of cars and commercial vehicles, under the brands of Volkswagen, Audi, Seat, Skoda, Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti, financial and data processing services, car rental, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for Volkswagen AG: development, manufacture and supply of cars and commercial vehicles, under the brands of Volkswagen, Audi, Seat, Skoda, Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti, financial and data processing services, car rental,

| — | Europcar: franchisor of car rental services, |
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Europcar: franchisor of car rental services,

| — | for TUI AG: tour operator, travel agency, air transport, passenger shipping, logistic services, container shipping, and car rentals, |
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for TUI AG: tour operator, travel agency, air transport, passenger shipping, logistic services, container shipping, and car rentals,

| — | JV: short term car rental business on the Baleares and Canary Islands (including that previously operated by TUI AG under the name ‘Ultramar’). |
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JV: short term car rental business on the Baleares and Canary Islands (including that previously operated by TUI AG under the name ‘Ultramar’).

| 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. |
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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. 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.

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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 (fax No +32 2 2964301 or 2967244) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.3597 — Europcar/TUI/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 (fax No +32 2 2964301 or 2967244) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.3597 — Europcar/TUI/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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(2)  Available on DG COMP website:

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

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