# C_2015351EN.01002201.xml

| 23.10.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 351/22 |
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23.10.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 351/22

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7805 — Apollo Capital Management/RBH/LRG Finance)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 351/10)

| 1. | On 16 October 2015, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which affiliates of Apollo Capital Management, LP (together ‘Apollo’, USA) and Redefine BDL Hotels UK Limited (‘RBH’, United Kingdom) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of LRG Finance Limited (‘LRG Group’, United Kingdom) by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 16 October 2015, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which affiliates of Apollo Capital Management, LP (together ‘Apollo’, USA) and Redefine BDL Hotels UK Limited (‘RBH’, United Kingdom) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of LRG Finance Limited (‘LRG Group’, United Kingdom) by way of purchase of shares.

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   for Apollo: investing in various businesses throughout the world including, inter alia, companies in the chemical, real estate, insurance, paper, and television production businesses,
  —   for RBH: managing a portfolio of 70 hotels ranging from branded to private label hotel properties. RBH manages a variety of international hotel brands, including IHG, Hilton, Starwood, Accor, Marriott and Wyndham,
  —   for LRG Group: operating a portfolio of hotels in the United Kingdom, including within London, around Heathrow and the M4 corridor, and in key regional cities (including Edinburgh, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham and Cardiff) |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for Apollo: investing in various businesses throughout the world including, inter alia, companies in the chemical, real estate, insurance, paper, and television production businesses,

for Apollo

—   for RBH: managing a portfolio of 70 hotels ranging from branded to private label hotel properties. RBH manages a variety of international hotel brands, including IHG, Hilton, Starwood, Accor, Marriott and Wyndham,

for RBH

—   for LRG Group: operating a portfolio of hotels in the United Kingdom, including within London, around Heathrow and the M4 corridor, and in key regional cities (including Edinburgh, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham and Cardiff)

for LRG Group

| 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.7805 — Apollo Capital Management/RBH/LRG Finance, to the following address: |
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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.7805 — Apollo Capital Management/RBH/LRG Finance, to the following address:

| European Commission |
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| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel |
| BELGIQUE/BELGIË |

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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