Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.6122 — Orizonia/BCD Travel/JV) — Candidate case for simplified procedure  Text with EEA relevance
Date: 2011-04-05
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: economic concentration, exchange of information, merger control, travel agency








C_2011105EN.01000901.xml










5.4.2011   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 105/9





Prior notification of a concentration
(Case COMP/M.6122 — Orizonia/BCD Travel/JV)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
2011/C 105/06






1.


On 28 March 2011, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which: (i) the undertakings Viajes Iberia SA (‘Viajes Iberia’, Spain) belonging to the Orizonia Group, itself jointly controlled by the Grupo Santander (Spain) and by The Carlyle Group (USA), and BCD Travel Business Spain SL (‘BCD Spain’, Spain) belonging to the BCD Travel Group, acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of BCD Travel Viajes Iberia (Spain) by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture; and (ii) Viajes Iberia acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of part of BCD Spain by way of transfer of assets.










2.


The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:






—


Viajes Iberia provides travel agency services for both leisure and business travellers, primarily in Spain,










—


Orizonia Group is active as a tour operator and wholesale supplier of charter flights. In addition, it provides travel agency and hotel accommodation services, mostly in Spain,










—


BCD Spain provides business travel management services in Spain,










—


BCD Travel Group provides business travel management services world-wide,










—


BCD Travel Viajes Iberia will provide business travel management services in Spain.














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.










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.6122 — Orizonia/BCD Travel/JV, 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’).

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