# C_2015114EN.01000501.xml

| 9.4.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 114/5 |
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9.4.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 114/5

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7516 — Starwood Capital Group/Melia Hotels International/Sol & Melia Hotel Portfolio)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 114/06)

| 1. | On 30 March 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 undertakings Starwood Capital Group (United States) and Melia Hotels International (Spain) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of six hotels located in Spain (the ‘Sol & Melia Hotel Portfolio’) by way of purchase of shares and contracts of management. |
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1.

On 30 March 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 undertakings Starwood Capital Group (United States) and Melia Hotels International (Spain) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of six hotels located in Spain (the ‘Sol & Melia Hotel Portfolio’) by way of purchase of shares and contracts of management.

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   for Starwood Capital Group: investment firm focusing on global real estate;
  —   for Melia Hotels International: hotel company and the largest hotel chain in Spain in both resort and city hotels. It currently operates more than 350 hotels in 35 countries;
  —   for Sol & Melia Hotel Portfolio: consists of six hotels in popular vacation resorts in Spain (Costa del Sol, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Mallorca and Ibiza). |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for Starwood Capital Group: investment firm focusing on global real estate;

for Starwood Capital Group

—   for Melia Hotels International: hotel company and the largest hotel chain in Spain in both resort and city hotels. It currently operates more than 350 hotels in 35 countries;

for Melia Hotels International

—   for Sol & Melia Hotel Portfolio: consists of six hotels in popular vacation resorts in Spain (Costa del Sol, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Mallorca and Ibiza).

for Sol & Melia Hotel Portfolio

| 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 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 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.7516 — Starwood Capital Group/Melia Hotels International/Sol & Melia Hotel Portfolio, 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.7516 — Starwood Capital Group/Melia Hotels International/Sol & Melia Hotel Portfolio, 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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