# C_2004312EN.01000401.xml

| 17.12.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 312/4 |
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17.12.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 312/4

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3669 — TBG CareCo/NHP)

(2004/C 312/04)

(Text with EEA relevance)

| 1. | On 9 December 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 undertaking TBG CareCo Limited (‘TBG’, UK) controlled by the Blackstone Group (‘Blackstone Group’, USA) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking NHP plc (‘NHP’, UK) by way of public bid announced on 29.11.2004. |
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1.

On 9 December 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 undertaking TBG CareCo Limited (‘TBG’, UK) controlled by the Blackstone Group (‘Blackstone Group’, USA) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking NHP plc (‘NHP’, UK) by way of public bid announced on 29.11.2004.

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






  — | for TBG: acquisition company, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for TBG: acquisition company,

| — | for Blackstone: private equity company, |
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for Blackstone: private equity company,

| — | for NHP: provision of care homes for the elderly. |
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—

for NHP: provision of care homes for the elderly.

| 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.3669 — TBG CareCo/NHP 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.3669 — TBG CareCo/NHP 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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