# C_2015027EN.01000701.xml

| 27.1.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 27/7 |
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27.1.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 27/7

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7509 — OBI/Brico Business Cooperation)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 27/08)

| 1. | On 19 January 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 OBI GmbH (Germany) belonging to the Tengelmann group acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of the whole of the undertaking Brico Business Cooperation Srl (Italy) by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 19 January 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 OBI GmbH (Germany) belonging to the Tengelmann group acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of the whole of the undertaking Brico Business Cooperation Srl (Italy) by way of purchase of shares.

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   for OBI GmbH: operation of a franchise system for do-it-yourself stores in Europe under the trademark ‘OBI’,
  —   for Brico Business Cooperation Srl: operation of and provision of franchise services for more than 50 do-it-yourself stores under the trademark ‘OBI’ in Italy. Brico Business Cooperation Srl is currently jointly controlled by OBI GmbH and UNICOOP Firenze. |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for OBI GmbH: operation of a franchise system for do-it-yourself stores in Europe under the trademark ‘OBI’,

for OBI GmbH

—   for Brico Business Cooperation Srl: operation of and provision of franchise services for more than 50 do-it-yourself stores under the trademark ‘OBI’ in Italy. Brico Business Cooperation Srl is currently jointly controlled by OBI GmbH and UNICOOP Firenze.

for Brico Business Cooperation Srl

| 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. |
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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.

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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 (+32 22964301), by e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.7509 — OBI/Brico Business Cooperation, to the following address:





  European Commission |
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| 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 e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.7509 — OBI/Brico Business Cooperation, 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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