Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11631 – HARNG CENTRAL DEPARTMENT STORE / GLOBUS HOLDING) – Candidate case for simplified procedure
Date: 2024-07-26
Institutions: Directorate-General for Competition, European Commission
Subjects: Austria, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, catering industry, economic concentration, holding company, merger control, property development, retail trade








C_202404764EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2024/4764


26.7.2024






Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.11631 – HARNG CENTRAL DEPARTMENT STORE / GLOBUS HOLDING)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(C/2024/4764)


1.   
On 17 July 2024, 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:






—


Harng Central Department Store Limited (‘Central Group’, Thailand), and










—


Globus Holding AG (‘Globus Holding’, Switzerland).




Central Group will acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of the whole of Globus Holding.
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.


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






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Central Group is a conglomerate holding company active in merchandising, real estate, retailing, hospitality and restaurants. In the EEA, Central Group owns and operates department stores in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Ireland and Denmark, as well conducts property development activities in Germany, Austria, Denmark and Italy, and










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Globus Holding is the holding company for Magazine zum Globus AG. Magazin zum Globus AG is active in the retail of non-food products, including beauty products, womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, footwear, accessories and homewares, and to a lesser extent the retail of food.






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 treatment for certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 on the control of concentrations between undertakings (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.11631 – HARNG CENTRAL DEPARTMENT STORE / GLOBUS HOLDING
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 160, 5.5.2023, p. 1.


ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/4764/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)