Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9880 – Permira/Warburg/Tilney/Smith & Williamson) Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance) 2020/C 223/05
Date: 2020-07-07
Institutions: Directorate-General for Competition, European Commission
Subjects: consultancy, economic concentration, financial services, investment company, merger control








C_2020223EN.01001801.xml










7.7.2020   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 223/18






Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.9880 – Permira/Warburg/Tilney/Smith & Williamson)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2020/C 223/05)

1.   
On 26 June 2020, 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:






—


Permira Holdings Limited (‘Permira’, Guernsey),










—


Warburg Pincus LLC (‘Warburg Pincus’, USA),










—


Tilney Group Limited (‘Tilney’, United Kingdom), which is ultimately controlled by Permira Holdings Limited (‘Permira’, Guernsey), and










—


Smith & Williamson Holdings Limited (‘Smith & Williamson’, United Kingdom).




Permira and Warburg Pincus acquire within the meaning of Articles 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the whole of Smith & Williamson and Tilney. The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.


2.   
The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:






—


Permira is a private equity business engaged in the provision of investment management services to a number of investment funds.










—


Warburg Pincus is a global private equity firm headquartered in New York. Warburg Pincus’ portfolio companies are active in a variety of sectors, including energy, financial services, healthcare, industrial and business services, technology, media and telecommunications.










—


Tilney is an independent wealth management firm headquartered in London, with offices throughout the UK. It is primarily active in providing financial planning, investment management, and advisory services to private clients.










—


Smith & Williamson is an independent financial and professional services firm headquartered in London, with offices throughout the UK and Ireland. Smith & Williamson offers, professional, financial and investment management services to individuals and businesses.






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.9880 – Permira/Warburg/Tilney/Smith & Wiliamson
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.