# C_2005018EN.01000301.xml

| 22.1.2005 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 18/3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

22.1.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 18/3

---

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3675 — Citigroup/Baltisches Haus/UAB Palink/JV)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2005/C 18/03)

(Text with EEA relevance)

| 1. | On 14 January 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 Beleggingsmaatschappij Smitho B.V., which trades as CVC International Palink (‘CVC International’, the Netherlands), and which is controlled by Citigroup Inc. (USA), and Baltisches Haus Limited (‘BH’, Isle of Man), acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of UAB Palink (Lithuania), by way of purchase of shares. |
| --- | --- |

1.

On 14 January 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 Beleggingsmaatschappij Smitho B.V., which trades as CVC International Palink (‘CVC International’, the Netherlands), and which is controlled by Citigroup Inc. (USA), and Baltisches Haus Limited (‘BH’, Isle of Man), acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of UAB Palink (Lithuania), by way of purchase of shares.

1

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






  — | for CVC International: holding-company for the business unit managing Citigroup's equity investments in emerging markets, |
| --- | --- | --- |

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

for CVC International: holding-company for the business unit managing Citigroup's equity investments in emerging markets,

| — | for Citigroup Inc.: global financial services company, |
| --- | --- |

—

for Citigroup Inc.: global financial services company,

| — | for BH: holding company in food retail and property investment, and |
| --- | --- |

—

for BH: holding company in food retail and property investment, and

| — | for UAB Palink: retail of daily consumer goods in Lithuania. |
| --- | --- |

—

for UAB Palink: retail of daily consumer goods in Lithuania.

| 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 (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.3675 — Citigroup/Baltisches Haus/UAB Palink/JV, 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 (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.3675 — Citigroup/Baltisches Haus/UAB Palink/JV, 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.

---