Prior notification of a concentration (Case M. 10309 — Castik/Abry/Xexec) Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance) 2021/C 256/06
Date: 2021-06-30
Institutions: Directorate-General for Competition, European Commission
Subjects: economic concentration, investment company, merger control, remuneration of work, technology, worker participation








C_2021256EN.01000801.xml










30.6.2021   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 256/8






Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M. 10309 — Castik/Abry/Xexec)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2021/C 256/06)

1.   
On 21 June 2021, 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:






—


Castik Capital S.à r.l. (‘Castik’, Luxembourg),










—


Abry Partners II LLC (‘Abry’, USA), and,










—


Xexec Limited (‘Xexec’, UK).




Castik and Abry acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the whole of Xexec.
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.


2.   
The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:






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for Castik: investment company focusing on identifying and developing investment opportunities across Europe.










—


for Abry: private equity firm managing funds that in invest in a broad range of businesses focusing on media, communications and information services.










—


for Xexec: company active in the employee engagement technology sector and provides prepaid corporate services and the design and management of solutions related to employee benefits, expense management, incentive reward and management of public social programs. Xexec provides tech-enabled employee engagement and customer loyalty solutions which offer a suite of employee discounts and reward and recognition solutions, complemented by an in-house tickets and travel concierge.






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. 10309 — Castik/Abry/Xexec
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.