# C_2014334EN.01003601.xml

| 25.9.2014 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 334/36 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

25.9.2014

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 334/36

---

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7372 — AXA/Hammerson/The real estate portfolio)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2014/C 334/17)

| 1. | On 18 September 2014, 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 SCI Vendome Commerces (France) and Hammerson plc (‘Hammerson’, the United Kingdom) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of a real estate portfolio by way of purchase of shares. |
| --- | --- |

1.

On 18 September 2014, 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 SCI Vendome Commerces (France) and Hammerson plc (‘Hammerson’, the United Kingdom) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of a real estate portfolio by way of purchase of shares.

1

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






  — | SCI Vendome Commerces is a 100 % subsidiary of AXA France Insurance companies. AXA is a global insurance group active in life, health and other forms of insurance, as well as in investment management, |
| --- | --- | --- |

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

SCI Vendome Commerces is a 100 % subsidiary of AXA France Insurance companies. AXA is a global insurance group active in life, health and other forms of insurance, as well as in investment management,

| — | Hammerson is active in commercial real estate development and the renting and operating of its own commercial real estate. Hammerson is a developer and owner-manager of shopping centres and retail parks primarily in the United Kingdom and also in France, |
| --- | --- |

—

Hammerson is active in commercial real estate development and the renting and operating of its own commercial real estate. Hammerson is a developer and owner-manager of shopping centres and retail parks primarily in the United Kingdom and also in France,

| — | the real estate portfolio comprises a shopping centre and a residential unit, as well as surrounding ownerships located in Bristol (the United Kingdom), a multi-storey car park and surrounding land in Bristol City Centre. |
| --- | --- |

—

the real estate portfolio comprises a shopping centre and a residential unit, as well as surrounding ownerships located in Bristol (the United Kingdom), a multi-storey car park and surrounding land in Bristol City Centre.

| 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.7372 — AXA/Hammerson/The real estate portfolio, 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.7372 — AXA/Hammerson/The real estate portfolio, 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

---