Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10687 – D’IETEREN / PHE) (Text with EEA relevance) 2022/C 241/11
Date: 2022-06-24
Institutions: Directorate-General for Competition, European Commission
Subjects: Belgium, France, economic concentration, family business, general mechanical engineering, investment company, large vehicle, light-duty vehicle, merger control, provision of services, vehicle parts








C_2022241EN.01002301.xml










24.6.2022   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 241/23






Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.10687 – D’IETEREN / PHE)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2022/C 241/11)

1.   
On 13 June 2022, 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:






—


D’Ieteren Group (‘DIG’) (Belgium),










—


Parts Holding Europe SAS (‘PHE’) (France), ultimately controlled by Bain Capital (United States).




DIG will acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of the whole of PHE, through the acquisition of PHE’s parent company, Dakar Holdings S.C.A.
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares


2.   
The business activities of the undertakings concerned are the following:






—


DIG is a family investment company active in various sectors, in particular: (i) import, distribution and retail of Volkswagen group vehicles and spare parts (Volkswagen, Audi, Seat, Skoda, Bentley, Lamborghini, Porsche and Bugatti) in Belgium (D’Ieteren Automotive); (ii) operates the Wondercar franchise (bodywork repair shops) in Belgium; and (iii) vehicle glass repair and replacement in various member States, including in Belgium and France (through Belron and operating under several brands including Carglass®, Safelite® and Autoglass®),










—


PHE is a company incorporated in France mainly active in spare parts distribution for light and heavy vehicles operating in the independent aftermarket (‘IAM’) in several EU Member States, including in Belgium and France. In France, PHE is also active in vehicle glass repair and replacement services through the brands Mondial Pare-Brise and Glass Auto Service. In both Belgium and France, PHE provides services and business support to independent garages operating under one of PHE’s brands, for example 1,2,3 Autoservice, AD, Autoprimo, Staff Auto, Glass Auto Service in France and 1,2,3 AutoService, Requal and AD Expert in Belgium.






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.



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.10687 – D’IETEREN / PHE
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’).