# C_2015182EN.01000501.xml

| 3.6.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 182/5 |
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3.6.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 182/5

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7627 — Centerbridge/BFF)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 182/05)

| 1. | On 26 May 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 Centerbridge Partners, L.P. (‘Centerbridge’, US) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation, sole control over Banca FarmaFactoring S.p.A. (‘BFF’, Italy), by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 26 May 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 Centerbridge Partners, L.P. (‘Centerbridge’, US) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation, sole control over Banca FarmaFactoring S.p.A. (‘BFF’, Italy), by way of purchase of shares.

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   for Centerbridge: investment management firm, focused on private equity and distressed investments, principally in North America and Europe. Investments are made across a variety of sectors, including transportation and logistics, retail and consumer (including restaurants), hospitality, business services, financial institutions, healthcare, industrial, communications and media and real estate.
  —   for BFF: banking group active in the factoring services sector in Italy, Portugal and Spain and in the retail banking in Italy. |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for Centerbridge: investment management firm, focused on private equity and distressed investments, principally in North America and Europe. Investments are made across a variety of sectors, including transportation and logistics, retail and consumer (including restaurants), hospitality, business services, financial institutions, healthcare, industrial, communications and media and real estate.

for Centerbridge

—   for BFF: banking group active in the factoring services sector in Italy, Portugal and Spain and in the retail banking in Italy.

for BFF

| 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 the 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 the 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 M.7627 — Centerbridge/BFF, 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 M.7627 — Centerbridge/BFF, 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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