Commission Decision of 18/04/2006 declaring a concentration to be compatible with the common market (Case No IV/M.4181 - BLACKSTONE / CENTER PARCS (UK) GROUP) according to Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 (Only the English text is authentic) | | Brussels, 18/04/2006 SG-Greffe(2006) D/202089 To the notifying party Dear Madam(s) and/or Sir(s), Subject: Case No. COMP/M.4181–BLACKSTONE/CENTER PARCS (UK) GROUP Notification of 10/03/2006 pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004 [1] Publication in the Official Journal of the European Union No. C 67, 18/03/2006, page 29 1. On 10/03/2006, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No.
139/2004 by which the Blackstone Group (“Blackstone”, USA) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Center Parcs (UK) Group Plc (“Center Parcs UK”,UK) by way of public bid announced on 9 March 2006. 2. The business activities of the undertakings concerned are : - for Blackstone : private merchant banking, financial advisory services, private equity investing and property investment; - for Center Parcs UK : operates four residential holiday villages in the UK and one spa in the UK. 1. After examination of the notification, the Commission has concluded that the notified operation falls within the scope of Council Regulation (EC) No.
139/2004 and of paragraph 5, subparagraph (b) or (c) of the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004[2]. 2. For the reasons set out in the Notice on a simplified procedure, the Commission has decided not to oppose the notified operation and to declare it compatible with the common market and with the EEA Agreement. This decision is adopted in application of Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004. For the Commission Signed Neelie KROES Member of the Commission [1] OJ L 24, 29.1.2004 p. 1 [2] OJ C 56, 05.3.2005 p.32 MERGER PROCEDURE ARTICLE 6(1)(b) DECISION SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE PUBLIC VERSION