# C_2015078EN.01000801.xml

| 6.3.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 78/8 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

6.3.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78/8

---

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7521 — Steinhoff International Holdings/Pepkor Holdings)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 78/08)

| 1. | On 26 February 2015, 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 Steinhoff International Holdings Limited (‘Steinhoff’, Republic of South Africa) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Pepkor Holdings Proprietary Limited (‘Pepkor’, Republic of South Africa) by way of purchase of shares. |
| --- | --- |

1.

On 26 February 2015, 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 Steinhoff International Holdings Limited (‘Steinhoff’, Republic of South Africa) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Pepkor Holdings Proprietary Limited (‘Pepkor’, Republic of South Africa) by way of purchase of shares.

1

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






  — | Steinhoff is active in Europe in the retailing of furniture, household goods, products for home decoration, electrical appliances, consumer electronics, do-it-yourself home improvement items and floor coverings, as well as in the manufacturing and wholesale of furniture, |
| --- | --- | --- |

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

Steinhoff is active in Europe in the retailing of furniture, household goods, products for home decoration, electrical appliances, consumer electronics, do-it-yourself home improvement items and floor coverings, as well as in the manufacturing and wholesale of furniture,

| — | Pepkor manages a group of retail chains. In Europe, Pepkor is active through Pepco, a retailer of clothing and footwear, household goods and products for home decoration, as well as cosmetics and cellular airtime. |
| --- | --- |

—

Pepkor manages a group of retail chains. In Europe, Pepkor is active through Pepco, a retailer of clothing and footwear, household goods and products for home decoration, as well as cosmetics and cellular airtime.

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under the 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 this Notice. |
| --- | --- |

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under the 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 this 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 (+32 22964301), by email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.7521 — Steinhoff International Holdings/Pepkor Holdings, to the following address:





  European Commission |
| --- | --- |
| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel |
| BELGIQUE/BELGIË |

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 (+32 22964301), by email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.7521 — Steinhoff International Holdings/Pepkor Holdings, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

---

(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘Merger Regulation’).

1

(2)  OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.

2

---