# C_2014277EN.01000501.xml

| 22.8.2014 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 277/5 |
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22.8.2014

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 277/5

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7011 — SNCF/SNCB/Thalys JV)

(Text with EEA relevance)

2014/C 277/04

| 1. | On 14 August 2014, the European Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertakings Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer (‘SNCF’, France) and Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Belges (‘SNCB’, Belgium) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of Nouvelle Entreprise Ferroviaire (‘NEF’ or ‘Thalys JV’, Belgium) by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture. |
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1.

On 14 August 2014, the European Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertakings Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer (‘SNCF’, France) and Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Belges (‘SNCB’, Belgium) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of Nouvelle Entreprise Ferroviaire (‘NEF’ or ‘Thalys JV’, Belgium) by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture.

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






  — | SNCF is a public undertaking of an industrial and commercial nature. Its activities include (i) national and international passenger transport, and distribution, (ii) local passenger transport, (iii) the management of railway stations, (iv) infrastructure and engineering, as well as (v) freight transport, in particular rail and logistics, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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SNCF is a public undertaking of an industrial and commercial nature. Its activities include (i) national and international passenger transport, and distribution, (ii) local passenger transport, (iii) the management of railway stations, (iv) infrastructure and engineering, as well as (v) freight transport, in particular rail and logistics,

| — | SNCB is a railway undertaking mainly active in the rail transport sector, in particular domestic passenger transport, international passenger transport, freight transport and the management of railway stations, |
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SNCB is a railway undertaking mainly active in the rail transport sector, in particular domestic passenger transport, international passenger transport, freight transport and the management of railway stations,

| — | NEF will be a vehicle which allows SNCF and SNCB to group their holdings in Coopération Thalys. NEF will offer international passenger transport services directly on the market. |
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NEF will be a vehicle which allows SNCF and SNCB to group their holdings in Coopération Thalys. NEF will offer international passenger transport services directly on the market.

| 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 European Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the European Commission by fax (+32 22964301), by email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.7011 — SNCF/SNCB/Thalys JV, to the following address:





  European Commission |
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| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Antitrust 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 European Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the European Commission by fax (+32 22964301), by email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.7011 — SNCF/SNCB/Thalys JV, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Antitrust 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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