Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11926 – HIGHLANDS / NPM / NTS) – Candidate case for simplified procedure
Date: 2025-04-22
Institutions: Directorate-General for Competition, European Commission
Subjects: economic concentration, holding company, investment company, mechatronics, merger control, new technology








C_202502426EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2025/2426


22.4.2025






Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.11926 – HIGHLANDS / NPM / NTS)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(C/2025/2426)


1.   
On 4 April 2025, 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:






—


Highlands Beheer B.V. (‘Highlands’, the Netherlands), ultimately controlled by STAK Highlands Beheer,










—


NPM Capital N.V., (‘NPM’, the Netherlands), ultimately controlled by SHV Holdings N.V. (the Netherlands),










—


NTS Group B.V. (‘NTS’, the Netherlands), currently solely controlled by Highlands.




Highlands and NPM will acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of NTS.
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.


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






—


Highlands is a holding company with majority interests in NTS, Additive Industries, ATD Machinery and Wolverhoek,










—


NPM is an independent investment company holding investments in a variety of sectors, including food, healthcare and industrial services.






3.   
The business activities of the undertaking NTS are the following:






—


NTS develops, produces, assembles, and tests (opto-) mechatronic systems and mechanical modules for high-tech original equipment manufacturers.






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 concentration 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.11926 – HIGHLANDS / NPM / NTS
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/2025/2426/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)