Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.10642 – CENTRAL / SIGNA / SELFRIDGES)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2022/C 139/06)

1. On 21 March 2022, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 ( 1 ) This notification concerns the following undertakings: — Harng Central Department Store Limited (‘Central’, Thailand), — SIGNA Holding GmbH (‘SIGNA’, Austria), — SFP Holdings Limited, Selfridges Manchester Limited and SHEL Holdings Europe Limited (together ‘Selfridges’, UK), controlled by Selfridges Group Limited (Canada). Central and SIGNA will acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control over Selfridges. The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.

2. The business activities of the undertakings concerned: — Central: is active worldwide in real estate, retailing, hospitality and restaurants primarily in Southeast Asia. In the EU, Central is active in the retail sector in Italy with the banner ‘la Rinascente’, in Germany with the banner ‘The KaDeWe Group’ and in Denmark with the banner ‘Illum’. It also conducts property development activities in Germany, Denmark and Italy, — SIGNA: is primarily active in two business areas: retail trade and real estate. In retail trade, it operates a chain of non-food products stores in Germany (‘GALERIA’) and in Belgium (‘INNO’). It also owns specialised brick and mortar shops of sporting goods, as well as a number of online shops with the banners ‘SportScheck’ and ‘SIGNA Sports United Group’. Further, it operates furniture stores in Austria, as well as two online furniture shops (‘kika’ and ‘Leiner’). In real estate, SIGNA focuses on purchase, rent, lease and management of land and buildings as well as project development. It owns real estate properties primarily in Austria, Germany, Northern Italy and Switzerland. It also operates luxury hotels in Austria and Italy, — Selfridges: is primarily active in the retail of non-food products including beauty products, womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, footwear, accessories and homewares. Selfridges’s retail business comprises three separate operating banners: ‘Selfridges’, ‘De Bijenkorf’ and ‘Brown Thomas and Arnotts’ with stores located in the UK, Ireland and The Netherlands, associated digital platforms, and owned real estate holdings in the UK and Ireland.

3. On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the 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 Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

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. The following reference should always be specified: M.10642 – CENTRAL / SIGNA / SELFRIDGES Observations can be sent to the Commission by email, by fax, or by post. Please use the contact details below: Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu Fax +32 22964301 Postal address: European Commission Directorate-General for Competition Merger Registry 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel BELGIQUE/BELGIË

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

(2) OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.