Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9957 — Advent International/Otto/Hermes Parcelnet/Hermes Germany) Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance) 2020/C 325/15
Date: 2020-10-02
Institutions: Directorate-General for Competition, European Commission
Subjects: delivery, economic concentration, holding company, investment company, merger control, retail trade, service








C_2020325EN.01002501.xml










2.10.2020   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 325/25






Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.9957 — Advent International/Otto/Hermes Parcelnet/Hermes Germany)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2020/C 325/15)

1.   
On 24 September 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:






—


Advent International Corporation (United States, ‘Advent’),










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Otto GmbH & Co KG (Germany, ‘Otto’),










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Hermes Parcelnet Limited (UK, ‘Hermes UK’), belonging to the Otto group,










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Hermes Germany GmbH (Germany, ‘Hermes Germany’), belonging to the Otto group.




Advent acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of the whole of Hermes UK; Advent and Otto acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of Hermes Germany.
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.


2.   
The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:






—


for Advent: a private equity investment business, focused on the acquisition of equity stakes and the management of investment funds in various sectors, including business and financial services; industrial goods and services; retail operations, branded consumer goods, and leisure services; media, telecommunications, and information technology; and healthcare services and pharmaceuticals. Its portfolio companies have global activities, including in United States, Europe, Asia, and South America,










—


for Otto: the holding company of various companies forming the Otto Group. Globally active in the area of retail and retail-related services,










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for Hermes UK: operates multi-channel delivery and collection services (i.e. courier services) in the United Kingdom,










—


for Hermes Germany: operates multi-channel delivery and collection services (i.e. courier services) in Germany,






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.9957 — Advent International/Otto/Hermes Parcelnet/Hermes Germany
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.