Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.8041 — M&G/Anchorage/PHS Group Investments) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2016-06-04
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: building services, cleaning industry, economic concentration, merger control, provision of services








C_2016199EN.01001301.xml










4.6.2016   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 199/13





Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.8041 — M&G/Anchorage/PHS Group Investments)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2016/C 199/09)






1.


On 27 May 2016 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 Anchorage Capital Group, L.L.C. (‘Anchorage’, United States) and funds managed by M&G Alternatives Investment Management Limited (‘MGAIM’, United Kingdom) and M&G Investment Management Limited (‘MGIM’, United Kingdom), ultimately controlled by Prudential plc (United Kingdom), acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the whole of the undertaking PHS Group Investments Limited (‘PHS’, United Kingdom) by way of purchase of shares.










2.


The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
—   For MGAIM and MGIM: MGAIM and MGIM are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Prudential plc, an international insurance group headquartered in London, United Kingdom, and are part of the investment management division of Prudential plc in Europe.
—   For Anchorage: Anchorage is a New York-based registered investment adviser founded in 2003. The firm manages private investment funds across the credit, special situations and illiquid investment markets of North America and Europe, with particular focus on defaulted and leveraged issuers.
—   For PHS: PHS is a United Kingdom-based workplace services provider specialised in hygiene services and supplies. Its key services include washroom services, matting and floorcare, plant rental, data shredding and compliance testing for business customers. In addition to the United Kingdom, PHS is active in Ireland and Spain.










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 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 email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference M.8041 — M&G/Anchorage/PHS Group Investments, 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.