# C_2014316EN.01000501.xml

| 16.9.2014 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 316/5 |
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16.9.2014

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 316/5

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7364 — Blackstone/Lombard)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

2014/C 316/05

| 1. | On 3 September 2014, the European Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which The Blackstone Group L.P. (‘Blackstone’, USA) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of Lombard International Assurance S.A. (‘Lombard’, Luxembourg) and Insurance Development Holdings A.G. (‘Insurance Development’, Switzerland), jointly referred to as ‘Lombard’, by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 3 September 2014, the European Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which The Blackstone Group L.P. (‘Blackstone’, USA) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of Lombard International Assurance S.A. (‘Lombard’, Luxembourg) and Insurance Development Holdings A.G. (‘Insurance Development’, Switzerland), jointly referred to as ‘Lombard’, by way of purchase of shares.

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   for Blackstone: an alternative asset manager and provider of financial advisory services, active globally.
  —   for Lombard: a provider of life insurance services, in particular unit-linked insurance plan services mainly in the EEA. |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for Blackstone: an alternative asset manager and provider of financial advisory services, active globally.

for Blackstone

—   for Lombard: a provider of life insurance services, in particular unit-linked insurance plan services mainly in the EEA.

for Lombard

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the European 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 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 European 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 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 European Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the European Commission.
  Observations must reach the European Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (+32 22964301), by e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.7364 — Blackstone/Lombard to the following address:





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

4.

The European Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the European Commission.

Observations must reach the European Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (+32 22964301), by e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.7364 — Blackstone/Lombard to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

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

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

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