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REGULATION (EC) No 139/2004 MERGER PROCEDURE

Article 6(1)(b) NON-OPPOSITION Date: 07/12/2006

In electronic form on the EUR-Lex website under document number 32006M4449

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

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 07-XII-2006

SG-Greffe(2006) D/207506

MERGER PROCEDURE ARTICLE 6(1)(b) DECISION

SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE

PUBLIC VERSION

To the notifying parties

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

1.On 03.11.2006, the US-based private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (ìKKRî) notified its intention to acquire 50% share of the French SociÈtÈ díInvestissement Familiale (ìSIFî, France) who is the majority shareholder of the French company Tarkett S.A. (ìTarkettî). As following the transaction the seller Deconinck Family and the acquirer KKR will hold 50-50% of the shares of SIF, the notified transaction represents a move from sole control to joint control within the meaning of Article 3(1)b of the EC Merger Regulation.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

-for KKR: private equity firm with investments in a range of different businesses.

-for SIF: holding company currently owned by the Deconinck Family; SIF is a majority shareholder of Tarkett, which is a global producer and distributor of flooring products.

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.

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.

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

2OJ C 56, 05.3.2005 p.32.

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