# C_2015013EN.01000601.xml

| 16.1.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 13/6 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

16.1.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 13/6

---

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7491 — LIXIL/Grohe)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 13/05)

| 1. | On 9 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 LIXIL Group Corporation (‘LIXIL’, Japan) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of the whole of the undertaking Grohe Group S.àr.l. (‘Grohe’, Luxembourg) by way of contractual amendments. Grohe is currently jointly controlled by LIXIL and the Development Bank of Japan. |
| --- | --- |

1.

On 9 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 LIXIL Group Corporation (‘LIXIL’, Japan) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of the whole of the undertaking Grohe Group S.àr.l. (‘Grohe’, Luxembourg) by way of contractual amendments. Grohe is currently jointly controlled by LIXIL and the Development Bank of Japan.

1

| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   for LIXIL: supply of building materials and housing equipment; including sanitary products,
  —   for Grohe: supply of sanitary products. |
| --- | --- |

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for LIXIL: supply of building materials and housing equipment; including sanitary products,

for LIXIL

—   for Grohe: supply of sanitary products.

for Grohe

| 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 e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.7491 — LIXIL/Grohe, 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 e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.7491 — LIXIL/Grohe, 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

---