# C_2016304EN.01004401.xml

| 20.8.2016 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 304/44 |
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20.8.2016

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 304/44

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.8126 — HNA Group/Carlson Hotels)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2016/C 304/06)

| 1. | On 12 August 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 HNA Group Co., Ltd (‘HNA Group’, China) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of Carlson Hotels, Inc. (‘Carlson Hotels’, United States) by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 12 August 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 HNA Group Co., Ltd (‘HNA Group’, China) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of Carlson Hotels, Inc. (‘Carlson Hotels’, United States) by way of purchase of shares.

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   for HNA Group: investing in several sectors encompassing aviation, real estate holdings, capital/financial services, tourism, and shipping/food cold chain logistics,
  —   for Carlson: providing hotel accommodation services worldwide. |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for HNA Group: investing in several sectors encompassing aviation, real estate holdings, capital/financial services, tourism, and shipping/food cold chain logistics,

for HNA Group

—   for Carlson: providing hotel accommodation services worldwide.

for Carlson

| 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 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 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 M.8126 — HNA Group/Carlson Hotels, 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 M.8126 — HNA Group/Carlson Hotels, 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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