# C_2010074EN.01001601.xml

| 24.3.2010 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 74/16 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

24.3.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 74/16

---

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.5824 — BC Partners/Spotless)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

2010/C 74/09

| 1. | On 15 March 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 undertaking CIE Management II Limited (‘CIEM’, Guernsey), general partner and manager of BC European Capital VIII (‘BC’, Guernsey), ultimately owned by BC Partners Holdings Limited (‘BC Partners’, Guernsey) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the EC Merger Regulation control of the whole of the Spotless Group SAS (‘Spotless’, France) by way of purchase of shares. |
| --- | --- |

1.

On 15 March 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 undertaking CIE Management II Limited (‘CIEM’, Guernsey), general partner and manager of BC European Capital VIII (‘BC’, Guernsey), ultimately owned by BC Partners Holdings Limited (‘BC Partners’, Guernsey) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the EC Merger Regulation control of the whole of the Spotless Group SAS (‘Spotless’, France) by way of purchase of shares.

1

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






  — | for BC Partners: private equity company, manager and general partner of BC Funds. The firm operates as an integrated team through offices in Europe and North America to acquire and develop businesses and create value in partnership with management, |
| --- | --- | --- |

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

for BC Partners: private equity company, manager and general partner of BC Funds. The firm operates as an integrated team through offices in Europe and North America to acquire and develop businesses and create value in partnership with management,

| — | for BC: private equity fund, |
| --- | --- |

—

for BC: private equity fund,

| — | for Spotless: manufacturer of laundry care products, household care products, shoes care products, glass lens cleaners and plant & pet care products. |
| --- | --- |

—

for Spotless: manufacturer of laundry care products, household care products, shoes care products, glass lens cleaners and plant & pet care products.

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the EC 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 EC Merger Regulation (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice. |
| --- | --- |

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the EC 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 EC Merger Regulation (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

2

| 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 number COMP/M.5824 — BC Partners/Spotless, to the following address:





  European Commission |
| --- | --- |
| 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 email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.5824 — BC Partners/Spotless, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

---

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

1

(2)  OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32 (‘Notice on a simplified procedure’).

2

---