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C\_2018234EN.01000801.xml


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| 5.7.2018 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 234/8 |

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.8925 — RWA/ZG/HGD JV)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2018/C 234/07)

1.

On 26 June 2018, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 [(1)](#ntr1-C_2018234EN.01000801-E0001).

This notification concerns the following undertakings:

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| — | RWA Raiffeisen Ware Austria AG (‘RWA’, Austria), controlled by Baywa AG (‘BayWa’, Germany), |

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| — | ZG Raiffeisen eG (‘ZG’, Germany), |

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| — | Haus und Garten Deutschland Handelskooperation GmbH (‘HGD’, Germany). |

RWA and ZG acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of HGD.

The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for Baywa: trading, logistics and supplementary services in three operating segments Agriculture, Energy and Building Materials and the Innovation & Digitalisation development segment worldwide. In the Agriculture Segment; provision of trading and other services for the agricultural and food industry, trade and logistics of agricultural commodities, and sale and maintenance of agricultural equipment,

—   for RWA: wholesale of agricultural products, inputs as well as agricultural machinery and spare parts, energy, building materials and products for home & garden. Franchising for building & garden centres and building materials under the Lagerhaus brand in Austria,

—   for ZG: cooperatively organised wholesale and service provision in agruciltural goods, feedstuff, agicultiral machinery, building materials and energy for members active in agriculture and forestry among others,

—   for the JV HGD: procurement and product range design services for building & garden centres throughout Germany.

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)](#ntr2-C_2018234EN.01000801-E0002) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

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. The following reference should always be specified:

M.8925 — RWA/ZG/HGD JV

Observations can be sent to the Commission by email, by fax, or by post. Please use the contact details below:

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| Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu |
| Fax +32 22964301 |
| Postal address: |
| European Commission |
| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel |
| BELGIQUE/BELGIË |

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[(1)](#ntc1-C_2018234EN.01000801-E0001)  [OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1](http://publications.europa.eu/resource/oj/JOL_2004_024_R_TOC) (the ‘Merger Regulation’).

[(2)](#ntc2-C_2018234EN.01000801-E0002)  [OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5](http://publications.europa.eu/resource/oj/JOC_2013_366_R_TOC).

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