# C_2010265EN.01001701.xml

| 30.9.2010 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 265/17 |
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30.9.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 265/17

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.5934 — Veolia Water UK and Veolia Voda/Subsidiaries of United Utilities Group)

(Text with EEA relevance)

2010/C 265/10

| 1. | On 23 September 2010, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Veolia Water UK Plc (‘VWUK’, UK) and Veolia Voda SA (‘VV’, Czech Republic) both ultimately controlled by Veolia Environment SA (‘VE’, France) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of certain businesses of United Utilities Group PLC (‘the Target Business’, UK) in UK by way of purchase of shares. In addition, VE Group will acquire shareholdings of the Target Business in water operating concessions in Bulgaria, Estonia and Poland. |
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1.

On 23 September 2010, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Veolia Water UK Plc (‘VWUK’, UK) and Veolia Voda SA (‘VV’, Czech Republic) both ultimately controlled by Veolia Environment SA (‘VE’, France) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of certain businesses of United Utilities Group PLC (‘the Target Business’, UK) in UK by way of purchase of shares. In addition, VE Group will acquire shareholdings of the Target Business in water operating concessions in Bulgaria, Estonia and Poland.

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






  — | for VWUK: provision of outsourced water and wastewater management services to regulated water and wastewater companies and industrial customers in UK and Ireland, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for VWUK: provision of outsourced water and wastewater management services to regulated water and wastewater companies and industrial customers in UK and Ireland,

| — | for VV: provision of water and wastewater infrastructures and services in Central and Eastern Europe, |
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for VV: provision of water and wastewater infrastructures and services in Central and Eastern Europe,

| — | for VE group: provision of environmental management services, |
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for VE group: provision of environmental management services,

| — | for the Target Business: provision of outsourced water and wastewater management services to regulated water and wastewater companies and industrial customers in UK and utility connections in UK. In Bulgaria, Poland and Estonia it has interests in companies operating concessions for the municipal supply of water and wastewater infrastructure and services. |
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for the Target Business: provision of outsourced water and wastewater management services to regulated water and wastewater companies and industrial customers in UK and utility connections in UK. In Bulgaria, Poland and Estonia it has interests in companies operating concessions for the municipal supply of water and wastewater infrastructure and services.

| 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.5934 — Veolia Water UK and Veolia Voda/Subsidiaries of United Utilities Group, 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.5934 — Veolia Water UK and Veolia Voda/Subsidiaries of United Utilities Group, 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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