# C_2016028EN.01000601.xml

| 26.1.2016 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 28/6 |
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26.1.2016

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 28/6

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7824 — Vita Central Europe/Walmark)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2016/C 28/07)

| 1. | On 18 January 2016, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 and following a referral pursuant to Article 4(5) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Vita Central Europe B.V. (‘Vita Central’, The Netherlands), belonging to the private equity group known as Mid Europa (‘Mid Europa’, United Kingdom), acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Walmark, a.s. (‘Walmark’, Czech Republic), currently jointly controlled by Vita Central and Aternus, a.s. (‘Aternus’, Czech Republic), by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 18 January 2016, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 and following a referral pursuant to Article 4(5) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Vita Central Europe B.V. (‘Vita Central’, The Netherlands), belonging to the private equity group known as Mid Europa (‘Mid Europa’, United Kingdom), acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Walmark, a.s. (‘Walmark’, Czech Republic), currently jointly controlled by Vita Central and Aternus, a.s. (‘Aternus’, Czech Republic), by way of purchase of shares.

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   Mid Europa: private equity group which invests in a number of sectors, including healthcare, retail, business services, logistics, telecommunications and leisure in Central and Eastern Europe and Turkey. Mid Europa owns, amongst others, Zabka, a chain of convenience stores in Poland.
  —   Vita Central: investment vehicle.
  —   Walmark: is active in the field of the production and distribution of dietary supplements, over-the-counter (‘OTC’) pharmaceuticals and other related products, mainly in Central and Eastern Europe. |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   Mid Europa: private equity group which invests in a number of sectors, including healthcare, retail, business services, logistics, telecommunications and leisure in Central and Eastern Europe and Turkey. Mid Europa owns, amongst others, Zabka, a chain of convenience stores in Poland.

Mid Europa

—   Vita Central: investment vehicle.

Vita Central

—   Walmark: is active in the field of the production and distribution of dietary supplements, over-the-counter (‘OTC’) pharmaceuticals and other related products, mainly in Central and Eastern Europe.

Walmark

| 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. |
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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.

| 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.7824 — Vita Central Europe/Walmark, 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.7824 — Vita Central Europe/Walmark, 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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