# C_2017286EN.01001001.xml

| 30.8.2017 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 286/10 |
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30.8.2017

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 286/10

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.8576 — Balder/Varma/Serena)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2017/C 286/07)

| 1. | On 23 August 2017, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Fastighets AB Balder (‘Balder’, Sweden) and Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company (‘Varma’, Finland) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of Serena Properties AB (‘Serena’, Finland) by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 23 August 2017, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Fastighets AB Balder (‘Balder’, Sweden) and Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company (‘Varma’, Finland) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of Serena Properties AB (‘Serena’, Finland) by way of purchase of shares.

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   for Balder: listed real estate company which owns, manages and develops residential and commercial properties and hotels in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland,
  —   for Varma: mutual pension insurance company, owned by its client companies and self-employed persons, insured employees and owners of the guarantee capital. Varma notably invests in Finnish real estate companies,
  —   for Serena: a real estate company active in the Finnish real estate market for commercial use and specialising in retail properties such as grocery stores and discounters. |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for Balder: listed real estate company which owns, manages and develops residential and commercial properties and hotels in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland,

for Balder

—   for Varma: mutual pension insurance company, owned by its client companies and self-employed persons, insured employees and owners of the guarantee capital. Varma notably invests in Finnish real estate companies,

for Varma

—   for Serena: a real estate company active in the Finnish real estate market for commercial use and specialising in retail properties such as grocery stores and discounters.

for Serena

| 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.8576 — Balder/Varma/Serena, 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.8576 — Balder/Varma/Serena, 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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