Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11203 – PAI PARTNERS / ECF) Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance) 2023/C 274/12
Date: 2023-08-03
Institutions: Directorate-General for Competition, European Commission
Subjects: European Economic Area, catering industry, consumer goods, economic concentration, foodstuff, health care, investment company, merger control, service, wholesale trade








C_2023274EN.01002501.xml










3.8.2023   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 274/25






Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.11203 – PAI PARTNERS / ECF)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2023/C 274/12)

1.   
On 27 July 2023, 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:






—


PAI Partners SAS (‘PAI Partners’, France)










—


ECF Group Equity (‘ECF’, France).




PAI Partners will acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of the whole of ECF.
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.


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






—


PAI Partners is a private equity firm that manages a number of funds investing in the business services, food & consumer products, general industrials and healthcare sectors. Through its controlled portfolio companies, PAI Partners generates revenue in many countries worldwide, notably in all EU Member States.










—


ECF: company active in the wholesale of equipment and non-food consumables for hospitality and care professionals, including small kitchen equipment, food-packaging, hygiene and cleaning products, workwear, furniture, and other professional kitchen appliances. ECF’s products are dedicated to professionals mostly active in the HoReCa sector, but also in the collectivity and care and outdoor accommodation sectors. Within the EEA, ECF is mainly active in France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg, and to a lesser extent in other EU countries.






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 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.11203 – PAI PARTNERS / ECF
Observations can be sent to the Commission by email or by post. Please use the contact details below:
Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu
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.