# C_2018167EN.01002101.xml

| 15.5.2018 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 167/21 |
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15.5.2018

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 167/21

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.8918 — AEA Investors/BCI/Springs)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2018/C 167/08)

| 1. | On 4 May 2018, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1).
  This notification concerns the following undertakings:






  — | AEA Investors LP (together with its affiliates ‘AEA’, United States), |
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1.

On 4 May 2018, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1).

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This notification concerns the following undertakings:

—

AEA Investors LP (together with its affiliates ‘AEA’, United States),

| — | British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (together with its affiliates ‘BCI’, Canada), and |
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—

British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (together with its affiliates ‘BCI’, Canada), and

| — | SIWF Holdings, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries ‘Springs’, United States). |
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—

SIWF Holdings, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries ‘Springs’, United States).

AEA and BCI acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the whole of Springs.

The concentration is accomplished by way of a purchase of shares.

| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   for AEA: private equity fund with investments in various sectors, in particular value added industrial products, specialty chemicals, consumer/retail and services,
  —   for BCI: investing on behalf of public sector clients in fixed income, mortgages, public and private equity, real estate, infrastructure and renewable resources,
  —   for Springs: manufacture and supply of a variety of window coverings, e.g. blinds, shades, shutters, draperies and retractable awnings. Springs distributes its products under the brands Bali, Graber, SWFcontract, Horizons, MechoSystems, Sunsetter, Mariak, and Patrician. |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for AEA: private equity fund with investments in various sectors, in particular value added industrial products, specialty chemicals, consumer/retail and services,

for AEA

—   for BCI: investing on behalf of public sector clients in fixed income, mortgages, public and private equity, real estate, infrastructure and renewable resources,

for BCI

—   for Springs: manufacture and supply of a variety of window coverings, e.g. blinds, shades, shutters, draperies and retractable awnings. Springs distributes its products under the brands Bali, Graber, SWFcontract, Horizons, MechoSystems, Sunsetter, Mariak, and Patrician.

for Springs

| 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 the 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 the 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. The following reference should always be specified:
  M.8918 — AEA Investors/BCI/Springs
  Observations can be sent to the Commission by email, by fax, or by post. Please use the contact details below:





  Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu |
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| Fax +32 22964301 |
| Postal address: |
| European Commission |
| 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. The following reference should always be specified:

M.8918 — AEA Investors/BCI/Springs

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

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)  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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