# C_2016044EN.01000901.xml

| 5.2.2016 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 44/9 |
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5.2.2016

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 44/9

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7934 — Blackstone/Norske Skog)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2016/C 44/06)

| 1. | On 28 January 2016, 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 Blackstone Group LP (‘Blackstone’, United States), will indirectly acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of Norske Skog industrier ASA (‘Norske Skog’, Norway), by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 28 January 2016, 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 Blackstone Group LP (‘Blackstone’, United States), will indirectly acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of Norske Skog industrier ASA (‘Norske Skog’, Norway), by way of purchase of shares.

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






  — | Blackstone is a global alternative asset manager and provider of financial advisory services. It is headquartered in the United States and has offices in Europe and Asia. |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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Blackstone is a global alternative asset manager and provider of financial advisory services. It is headquartered in the United States and has offices in Europe and Asia.

| — | Norske Skog is active in the forest products industry. Its core business activity is the production and sale of wood-based printing paper (newsprint and magazine). |
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Norske Skog is active in the forest products industry. Its core business activity is the production and sale of wood-based printing paper (newsprint and magazine).

| 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 email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.7934 — Blackstone/Norske Skog, 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.7934 — Blackstone/Norske Skog, 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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