Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11278 – TDR CAPITAL / RING INTERNATIONAL / POPEYES UK) Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance) 2023/C 340/10
Date: 2023-09-27
Institutions: Directorate-General for Competition, European Commission
Subjects: catering industry, economic concentration, franchising, holding company, investment company, merger control, retail selling








C_2023340EN.01009401.xml










27.9.2023   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 340/94







Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.11278 – TDR CAPITAL / RING INTERNATIONAL / POPEYES UK)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2023/C 340/10)


1.   
On 19 September 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:






—


TDR Capital LLP (‘TDR Capital’, UK),










—


Ring International Holding AG (‘Ring International’, Austria),










—


PLK Venture UK Ltd (‘Popeyes UK’, UK), controlled by Ring International.




TDR Capital and Ring International will acquire within the meaning of Articles 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of Popeyes UK.
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.


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






—


TDR Capital is a private equity firm that invests in a variety of sectors, including in investment and asset management, energy services, education, gyms, health clubs, pubs and restaurants in the UK, Europe and the US,










—


Ring International is a family holding company primarily active in Europe and the UAE that invests in a variety of sectors, mainly in the production and distribution of stationary products (such as binders), metal products for industrial proposes (bellows, flexible metal hoses), as well as fast-food chains,










—


Popeyes UK is a chain of quick-service restaurants at 29 locations across the UK, serving mainly fried chicken meals. These restaurants are franchised from Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc., an American multinational chain of fried chicken fast food restaurants.






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.11278 – TDR CAPITAL / RING INTERNATIONAL / POPEYES UK
Observations can be sent to the Commission by email or by post. Please use the contact details below:
Email: mailto: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.