# C_2015421EN.01002601.xml

| 17.12.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 421/26 |
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17.12.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 421/26

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7887 — Goldman Sachs/Astorg Asset Management/HRA Pharma)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 421/11)

| 1. | On 9 December 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 undertakings Astorg Asset Management Sàrl. acting on behalf of Astorg VI (‘Astorg’, Luxembourg) and The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (‘Goldman Sachs’, United States) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control over Laboratoire HRA Pharma SAS and its subsidiaries (‘HRA Pharma’, France), by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 9 December 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 undertakings Astorg Asset Management Sàrl. acting on behalf of Astorg VI (‘Astorg’, Luxembourg) and The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (‘Goldman Sachs’, United States) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control over Laboratoire HRA Pharma SAS and its subsidiaries (‘HRA Pharma’, France), by way of purchase of shares.

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






  — | Astorg is a private equity investment firm, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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Astorg is a private equity investment firm,

| — | Goldman Sachs is a global investment banking, securities and investment management firm, |
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Goldman Sachs is a global investment banking, securities and investment management firm,

| — | HRA Pharma is a French pharmaceutical company that develops and sells pharmaceutical products and devices in women health and endocrinology sectors. |
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HRA Pharma is a French pharmaceutical company that develops and sells pharmaceutical products and devices in women health and endocrinology sectors.

| 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 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 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 email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference M.7887 — Goldman Sachs/Astorg Asset Management/HRA Pharma, 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 email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference M.7887 — Goldman Sachs/Astorg Asset Management/HRA Pharma, 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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