Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11626 – JUMBO / VERMAAT / LA PLACE) – Candidate case for simplified procedure
Date: 2024-07-29
Institutions: Directorate-General for Competition, European Commission
Subjects: Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, catering industry, economic concentration, franchising, merger control, supermarket








C_202404776EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2024/4776


29.7.2024






Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.11626 – JUMBO / VERMAAT / LA PLACE)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(C/2024/4776)


1.   
On 19 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:






—


Koninklijke Jumbo Food Group B.V. (‘Jumbo’, Netherlands), controlled by Stichting Jumbo Groep (Nethrelands),










—


Vermaat Retail B.V. (‘Vermaat’, Netherlands), controlled by Bridgepoint Group plc (United Kigdom),










—


La Place B.V. (‘La Place’, Netherlands], controlled by Jumbo.




Jumbo and Vermaat will acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of La Place.
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.


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






—


Jumbo operates supermarkets in the Netherlands and Belgium. It also sells daily consumer goods online through Jumbo.com.










—


Vermaat provides foodservices in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. It also owns convenience/food stores and operates as a franchisee 41 La Place restaurants in the Netherlands.






3.   

The business activities of the undertaking La Place are in the Netherlands and consist of operating its own La Place restaurants and the La Place franchise.



4.   
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.


5.   
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.11626 – JUMBO / VERMAAT / LA PLACE
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/2024/4776/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)