# C_2010238EN.01001101.xml

| 3.9.2010 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 238/11 |
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3.9.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 238/11

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.5975 — Lion Capital/Picard Groupe)

(Text with EEA relevance)

2010/C 238/06

| 1. | On 27 August 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 Lion Capital LLP (‘Lion Capital’, United Kingdom) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of Picard Groupe SA (‘Picard’, France) by way of purchase of securities. |
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1.

On 27 August 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 Lion Capital LLP (‘Lion Capital’, United Kingdom) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of Picard Groupe SA (‘Picard’, France) by way of purchase of securities.

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






  — | Lion Capital is a private equity investment manager with a focus on investments in companies that are engaged in the production and/or sale of consumer-branded goods. One of its portfolio companies, Findus, is active in the market for supply of frozen food to retailers, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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Lion Capital is a private equity investment manager with a focus on investments in companies that are engaged in the production and/or sale of consumer-branded goods. One of its portfolio companies, Findus, is active in the market for supply of frozen food to retailers,

| — | Picard is active in the retail distribution of frozen food through its own distribution network of specialized shops operating under the Picard brand. |
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Picard is active in the retail distribution of frozen food through its own distribution network of specialized shops operating under the Picard brand.

| 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.5975 — Lion Capital/Picard Groupe, 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.5975 — Lion Capital/Picard Groupe, 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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