Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.8187 — Axcel IV/PFA/PKA/DSF) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2016-10-06
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: economic concentration, financial services, merger control








C_2016367EN.01000401.xml










6.10.2016   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 367/4





Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.8187 — Axcel IV/PFA/PKA/DSF)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2016/C 367/04)






1.


On 29 September 2016, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Axcel IV K/S, IV K/S 2, Ax Management Invest II K/S, Ax Management Invest K/S (Denmark, jointly referred to as ‘Axcel IV’), PFA Pension, Forsikringsaktieselskab (Denmark, ‘PFA’) and the PKA Funds (Denmark) (2) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the whole of Danmarks Skibskredit A/S (Danish Ship Finance, Denmark, ‘DSF’) by way of purchase of shares.










2.


The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:






—


Axcel IV is part of Axcel, which is a private equity fund with a particular focus on medium-sized companies in the Nordics. It currently owns seven companies, active in a number of different sectors. Its investments are held via four investment funds.










—


PFA is the largest commercial pension company in Denmark, and provides pension and life insurance services to employees of some of the largest Danish firms.










—


The PKA Funds are three separate pension funds (for different groups of professions) that operate in cooperation. They are among the largest pension service providers for labour market pension funds in Denmark.










—


DSF provides loans to shipping companies secured by ship mortgages both in Denmark and internationally.














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 (3) 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 number M.8187 — Axcel IV/PFA/PKA/DSF, 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)  Pensionskassen for Sundhedsfaglige (The Health Care Professionals’ Pension Fund), Pensionskassen for Sygeplejersker og Lægesekretærer (The State Registered Nurses’ and Medical Secretaries’ Pension Fund) and Pensionskassen for Socialrådgivere, Socialpædagoger og Kontorpersonale (The Social Workers’, Social Pedagogues’ and Office Staffs’ Pension Fund).

(3)  OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.