# C_2015204EN.01001901.xml

| 20.6.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 204/19 |
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20.6.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 204/19

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7650 — Katara Hospitality/Starwood Hotel & Resorts Worldwide/Westin Excelsior Hotel)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 204/07)

| 1. | On 11 June 2015, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Katara Hospitality (‘Katara’, Qatar) ultimately controlled by the Qatar Investment Authority (‘QIA’, Qatar), and Starwood Hotel & Resorts Worldwide Inc (‘Starwood’, USA), acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the real estate property known as Westin Excelsior Hotel of Rome (Italy) and its related business and management by way of purchase of assets and management contract. |
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1.

On 11 June 2015, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Katara Hospitality (‘Katara’, Qatar) ultimately controlled by the Qatar Investment Authority (‘QIA’, Qatar), and Starwood Hotel & Resorts Worldwide Inc (‘Starwood’, USA), acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the real estate property known as Westin Excelsior Hotel of Rome (Italy) and its related business and management by way of purchase of assets and management contract.

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






  — | for Katara: owning, managing and developing hotels globally, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for Katara: owning, managing and developing hotels globally,

| — | QIA is the sovereign investment fund of the State of Qatar, |
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QIA is the sovereign investment fund of the State of Qatar,

| — | for Starwood: owning, franchising and managing hotels worldwide. |
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for Starwood: owning, franchising and managing hotels worldwide.

| 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.7650 — Katara Hospitality/Starwood Hotel & Resorts Worldwide/Westin Excelsior Hotel), 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.7650 — Katara Hospitality/Starwood Hotel & Resorts Worldwide/Westin Excelsior Hotel), 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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