Commission Decision of 12/12/2006 declaring a concentration to be compatible with the common market (Case No IV/M.4467 - BLACKSTONE / PAI / UNITED BISCUITS) according to Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 (Only the English text is authentic) Brussels, 12-XII-2006 SG-Greffe(2006) D/207645 To the notifying parties Dear Madam(s) and/or Sir(s), Subject: Case No. COMP/M.4467 – Blackstone / PAI / United Biscuits : Notification of 07/11/2006 pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004 [1] Publication in the Official Journal of the European Union No. C 277 – 15/11/2006 – page 24.
1. On 07.11.2006, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 [2] by which the undertakings The Blackstone Group (“Blackstone”, USA) and PAI Partners (“PAI”, France), through an acquisition vehicle, acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation indirect joint control of the undertaking United Biscuits (“United Biscuits”, UK) by way of purchase of shares. 2. The business activities of the undertakings concerned are : - for Blackstone : private merchant banking firm - for PAI : private equity firm - for United Biscuits : production and sale of sweet and savoury biscuits, cakes and snacks.
3. 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) of the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004 [3]. 4. 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 Philip LOWE Director General [1] OJ L 24, 29.1.2004 p. 1 [2] OJ L 24, 29.1.2004 p. 1 [3] OJ C 56, 05.3.2005 p.32 --------------------------------------------------