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Case No COMP/M.4616 - HOME RETAIL / DURINICUM / OGALAS

Only the English text is available and authentic.

REGULATION (EC) No 139/2004 MERGER PROCEDURE

Article 6(1)(b) NON-OPPOSITION Date: 13/04/2007

In electronic form on the EUR-Lex website under document number 32007M4616

Office for Official Publications of the European Communities L-2985 Luxembourg

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 13.04.2007 SG-Greffe(2007) D/202214

PUBLIC VERSION

MERGER PROCEDURE

ARTICLE 6(1)(b) DECISION

SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE

To the notifying parties:

Dear Madam(s) and/or Sir(s),

Subject: Case COMP/M.4616 - Home Retail/Durinicum/Ogalas Notification of 12/03/2007 pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004 Publication in the Official Journal of the European Union No. C 63 of 17.03.2007, page 6.

1.On 12.03.2007, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 by which the undertakings Home Retail Group plc ("Home Retail",UK) and Durinicum (Consultancy) Ltd ("Durinicum",UK) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking Ogalas Ltd ("Ogalas", Ireland) by way of purchase of shares.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

-- for Home Retail : general merchandise retail, home enhancement and DIY products in the UK and Ireland ("Homebase" and "Argos" brands)

-- for Durinicum : construction, development and regeneration

-- for Ogalas: retail of homewares in Ireland ("Home Store & More" brand).

1OJ L 24, 29.1.2004 p. 1

Commission européenne, B-1049 Bruxelles / Europese Commissie, B-1049 Brussel - Belgium. Telephone: (32-2) 299 11 11.

2.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, subparagraphs (a) and (c) of the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004.

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 by N.Calviño, Deputy Director General for Philip LOWE Director General

2OJ C 56, 05.3.2005 p.32

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