# C_2016301EN.01002401.xml

| 19.8.2016 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 301/24 |
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19.8.2016

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 301/24

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.8161 — Qualium/Ardian/Kermel)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2016/C 301/03)

| 1. | On 10 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 undertakings Ardian France S.A.S. (‘Ardian’, France) and Qualium S.A.S. (‘Qualium’, France), controlled by Caisse des Dépôts et des Consignations, acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the whole of the undertaking Kermel S.A.S. by way of contract of management. |
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1.

On 10 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 undertakings Ardian France S.A.S. (‘Ardian’, France) and Qualium S.A.S. (‘Qualium’, France), controlled by Caisse des Dépôts et des Consignations, acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the whole of the undertaking Kermel S.A.S. by way of contract of management.

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   for Qualium: Qualium is an asset management company, focusing on leveraged buyouts. It is wholly owned by Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, a public group operating in the general interest,
  —   for Ardian: Ardian, a public limited company, is a private equity firm that manages a number of investment funds and also holds certain direct investments. |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for Qualium: Qualium is an asset management company, focusing on leveraged buyouts. It is wholly owned by Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, a public group operating in the general interest,

for Qualium

—   for Ardian: Ardian, a public limited company, is a private equity firm that manages a number of investment funds and also holds certain direct investments.

for Ardian

| 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 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 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 publication of this notification. 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.8161 — Qualium/Ardian/Kermel, 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 publication of this notification. 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.8161 — Qualium/Ardian/Kermel, 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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