Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.7542 — Griffin/Skanska/Starwood/Hotel Atrium) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2015-11-07
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: building industry, economic concentration, holding company, hotel industry, investment company, merger control








C_2015370EN.01000601.xml










7.11.2015   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 370/6





Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.7542 — Griffin/Skanska/Starwood/Hotel Atrium)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2015/C 370/06)






1.


On 30 October 2015, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertakings GT Netherlands IV B.V. (‘Griffin’, Netherlands) ultimately controlled by the Oaktree Capital Group LLC (‘Oaktree Group’, United States), Skanska Central Europe Holding B.V. (‘Skanska’, Netherlands), ultimately controlled by Skanska AB (‘Skanska Group’) and Starwood EAME License and Services Company BVBA (‘Starwood’, Belgium), ultimately controlled by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (‘Starwood Group’, United States) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and Article 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control over Hotel Atrium sp. z o.o. (‘Hotel Atrium’, Poland) by way of purchase of shares and contract of management.










2.


The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:






—


The Oaktree Group specialises in alternative investments. Its Griffin subgroup is active on the real estate market in Central and Eastern Europe. Griffin’s main activity consists in renting out and operating of own and leased real estates.










—


The Skanska Group’s principal activities are project development, construction services and other services related to real estate. Skanska is a holding company whose affiliates offer real estate development services.










—


The Starwood Group is a worldwide hotel and leisure operator. Its brands include Sheraton, Westin, W, Four Points by Sheraton, St. REGIS and the Luxury Collection. Starwood is an operator of, among others, the Westin hotel in Warsaw.










—


Hotel Atrium is the owner of the property located in Warsaw, currently operated as a hotel under the brand name Westin.














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 the 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 this 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 e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference M.7542 — Griffin/Skanska/Starwood/Hotel Atrium, to the following 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.