Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9504 — Blackstone/CRH (European distribution business)) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance.)
Date: 2019-09-23
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: building materials, distributor, economic concentration, heating, investment company, merger control, plumbing equipment








C_2019318EN.01001801.xml










23.9.2019   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 318/18






Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.9504 — Blackstone/CRH (European distribution business))
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2019/C 318/10)

1.   
On 13 September 2019, 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:






—


Blackstone Group L.P. (‘Blackstone’, United States),










—


CRH European distribution business including Paulsen & Eckhart GmbH, Paulsen & Braeuniger GmbH, August Wollschläger & Co GmbH, Bergmann & Franz Nachf. GmbH & Co.KG, Andreas Paulsen GmbH, CRH Betonholding GmbH, D.F. Liedelt Heizungs- und Sanitär Grosshandels GmbH, Bauking AG (Germany), Quester Baustoffhandel GmbH (Austria), Heumatrans NV, Jeca BVBA, Lambrechts NV, BMB Bouwmaterialen BVBA, Sax Sanitair NV, Schrauwen Sanitaire en Verwarming NV (Belgium), BMN Bowmaterialenhandel BV (the Netherlands), Cimentos Estrada Perdra S.G.P.S. Limitada (Portugal), CRH Normandie Distribution SAS, CRH France Distribution SAS (France), (‘CRH European distribution business’), as controlled by CRH plc (‘CRH’, Ireland).




Blackstone acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of parts of CRH.
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.


2.   
The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
—   for Blackstone: global alternative asset management,
—   for CRH European distribution business: distribution of building, sanitary, heating and plumbing materials through general builders merchants, specialist builders merchants, as well as DIY stores.


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 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.9504 — Blackstone/CRH (European distribution business)
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.