# C_2010309EN.01001201.xml

| 13.11.2010 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 309/12 |
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13.11.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 309/12

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.5996 — Thomas Cook/Travel business of Co-operative Group/Travel business of Midlands Co-operative Society)

(Text with EEA relevance)

2010/C 309/06

| 1. | On 9 November 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 Thomas Cook plc (‘Thomas Cook’, United Kingdom) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of the travel business of Co-operative Group Limited (‘CGL’, United Kingdom) and of the travel business of Midlands Co-operative Society Limited (‘Midlands’, United Kingdom) by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 9 November 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 Thomas Cook plc (‘Thomas Cook’, United Kingdom) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of the travel business of Co-operative Group Limited (‘CGL’, United Kingdom) and of the travel business of Midlands Co-operative Society Limited (‘Midlands’, United Kingdom) by way of purchase of shares.

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






  — | for Thomas Cook: integrated leisure travel company active in the supply and distribution of travel services across Europe, North America, India and Egypt, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for Thomas Cook: integrated leisure travel company active in the supply and distribution of travel services across Europe, North America, India and Egypt,

| — | for CGL: travel business focused on the retail and online distribution of holiday products in the United Kingdom, |
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for CGL: travel business focused on the retail and online distribution of holiday products in the United Kingdom,

| — | for Midlands: travel business focused on the retail and online distribution of holiday products mainly in Midlands, United Kingdom. |
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for Midlands: travel business focused on the retail and online distribution of holiday products mainly in Midlands, United Kingdom.

| 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.5996 — Thomas Cook/Travel business of Co-operative Group/Travel business of Midlands Co-operative Society, 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.5996 — Thomas Cook/Travel business of Co-operative Group/Travel business of Midlands Co-operative Society, 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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