# C_2015397EN.01002001.xml

| 28.11.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 397/20 |
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28.11.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 397/20

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7872 — Novartis/GSK (Ofatumumab Autoimmune Indications))

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 397/06)

| 1. | On 18 November 2015, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Novartis AG (‘Novartis’, Switzerland) acquires from GlaxoSmithKline plc (‘GSK’, United Kingdom), within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation, sole control of the rights to the autoimmune indications with respect to the pharmaceutical Ofatumumab, by way of purchase of assets. |
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1.

On 18 November 2015, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Novartis AG (‘Novartis’, Switzerland) acquires from GlaxoSmithKline plc (‘GSK’, United Kingdom), within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation, sole control of the rights to the autoimmune indications with respect to the pharmaceutical Ofatumumab, by way of purchase of assets.

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






  — | Novartis is a Swiss healthcare company, active worldwide in three broad areas of healthcare: pharmaceuticals, eye care and generics, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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Novartis is a Swiss healthcare company, active worldwide in three broad areas of healthcare: pharmaceuticals, eye care and generics,

| — | GSK is a British pharmaceutical company active worldwide in the areas of pharmaceuticals, vaccines and consumer health products. |
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GSK is a British pharmaceutical company active worldwide in the areas of pharmaceuticals, vaccines and consumer health products.

| 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 email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.7872 — Novartis/GSK (Ofatumumab Autoimmune Indications), 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 number M.7872 — Novartis/GSK (Ofatumumab Autoimmune Indications), 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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