Case No COMP/M.3541 - TPG POST / ESSENT RETAIL / CENDRIS-BSC JV

Only the English text is available and authentic.

REGULATION (EC) No 139/2004 MERGER PROCEDURE

Article 6(1)(b) NON-OPPOSITION Date: 15/09/2004

Also available in the CELEX database Document No 32004M3541

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

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 15.09.2004

SG-Greffe(2004) D/204032/204033

PUBLIC VERSION

MERGER PROCEDURE ARTICLE 6(1)(b) DECISION

SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE

To the notifying parties

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

Subject: Case No. COMP/M.3541 - TPG / ESSENT RETAIL / CENDRIS BSC Notification of 17/08/2004 pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004 Publication in the Official Journal of the European Union No. C 212 of 24 August, page 9

1.On 17.08.2004, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 by which the undertakings Koninklijke TPG Post B.V. controlled by TPG N.V. (ìTPG Postî, The Netherlands) and Essent Retail Bedrijven B.V. belonging to the group Essent (ìEssent Retailî, The Netherlands) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking Cendris BSC Customer Contact B.V. (ìCendris BSCî, The Netherlands) by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture. The business activities of the undertakings concerned are :

-- for TPG Post: Dutch universal postal services operator;

1OJ L 24, 29.1.2004 p. 1

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

-- for Essent Retail: supply of electricity, gas and heat (through centralised heating systems) to private customers and SMEs;

-- for Cendris BSC: call centre services.

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, subparagraph c (i), of the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No139/2004.

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) Mario MONTI Member of the Commission

Available on DG COMP website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/competition/mergers/legislation/consultation/simplified_tru.pdf.

2