# C_2010112EN.01000601.xml

| 1.5.2010 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 112/6 |
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1.5.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 112/6

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.5655 — SNCF/LCR/Eurostar)

(Text with EEA relevance)

2010/C 112/04

| 1. | On 26 April 2010, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertakings Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français (‘SNCF’, France) and London & Continental Railways Limited (‘LCR’, United Kingdom), belonging to the UK Secretary of State for Transport, acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of Eurostar International Limited (‘Eurostar’, United Kingdom) by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture. |
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1.

On 26 April 2010, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertakings Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français (‘SNCF’, France) and London & Continental Railways Limited (‘LCR’, United Kingdom), belonging to the UK Secretary of State for Transport, acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of Eurostar International Limited (‘Eurostar’, United Kingdom) by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture.

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:






  — | SNCF: passenger and other railway transport services on the French railway network including international services and infrastructure management, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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SNCF: passenger and other railway transport services on the French railway network including international services and infrastructure management,

| — | LCR: operation and management of High Speed 1 (HS1) railway infrastructure and stations in the UK, participation in Eurostar (EIL) and development land interests at Stratford and King's Cross railway stations, |
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LCR: operation and management of High Speed 1 (HS1) railway infrastructure and stations in the UK, participation in Eurostar (EIL) and development land interests at Stratford and King's Cross railway stations,

| — | Eurostar: provision of cross-Channel high-speed passenger rail services under the Eurostar brand name, mainly connecting London and Kent in the United Kingdom, with Paris and Lille in France and Brussels in Belgium. |
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Eurostar: provision of cross-Channel high-speed passenger rail services under the Eurostar brand name, mainly connecting London and Kent in the United Kingdom, with Paris and Lille in France and Brussels in Belgium.

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope the EC Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. |
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3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope the EC Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

| 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 e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.5655 — SNCF/LCR/Eurostar, to the following address:





  European Commission |
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| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| J-70 |
| 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 e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.5655 — SNCF/LCR/Eurostar, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

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(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘EC Merger Regulation’).

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