# C_2017242EN.01001801.xml

| 27.7.2017 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 242/18 |
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27.7.2017

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 242/18

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.8582 — Letterone/Holland & Barrett)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2017/C 242/08)

| 1. | On 18 July 2017, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Letterone Investment Holdings SA (‘Letterone Investment’, Luxembourg) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Holland & Barrett International Limited (‘Holland & Barrett’, the UK) by way of a purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 18 July 2017, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Letterone Investment Holdings SA (‘Letterone Investment’, Luxembourg) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Holland & Barrett International Limited (‘Holland & Barrett’, the UK) by way of a purchase of shares.

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   for Letterone Investment: international investment targeting investments in the telecoms and technology, healthcare and retail sectors,
  —   for Holland & Barrett: retail of health and wellbeing products, such as, for example, vitamin supplements and health foods, through its network of high street shops and online. |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for Letterone Investment: international investment targeting investments in the telecoms and technology, healthcare and retail sectors,

for Letterone Investment

—   for Holland & Barrett: retail of health and wellbeing products, such as, for example, vitamin supplements and health foods, through its network of high street shops and online.

for Holland & Barrett

| 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 M.8582 — Letterone/Holland & Barrett, 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.8582 — Letterone/Holland & Barrett, 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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