# C_2016292EN.01000501.xml

| 12.8.2016 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 292/5 |
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12.8.2016

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 292/5

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.8168 — Steinhoff International/Poundland)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2016/C 292/05)

| 1. | On 5 August 2016, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Steinhoff Europe AG part of the Steinhoff group (‘Steinhoff’, South Africa) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Poundland Group plc (‘Poundland’, United Kingdom) by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 5 August 2016, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Steinhoff Europe AG part of the Steinhoff group (‘Steinhoff’, South Africa) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Poundland Group plc (‘Poundland’, United Kingdom) by way of purchase of shares.

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   for Steinhoff: manufacture and wholesale sale of furniture and retail sale primarily of furniture, home decoration and household goods, electrical appliances and electronic consumer goods and clothing.
  —   for Poundland: retail sale of a wide range of food and non-food consumer products in the UK, Ireland and Spain. |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for Steinhoff: manufacture and wholesale sale of furniture and retail sale primarily of furniture, home decoration and household goods, electrical appliances and electronic consumer goods and clothing.

for Steinhoff

—   for Poundland: retail sale of a wide range of food and non-food consumer products in the UK, Ireland and Spain.

for Poundland

| 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.8168 — Steinhoff International/Poundland, 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.8168 — Steinhoff International/Poundland, 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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