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REGULATION (EEC) No 4064/89 MERGER PROCEDURE

Article 6(1)(b) NON-OPPOSITION Date: 17/01/2001

Also available in the CELEX database Document No 301M2252

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

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 17.01.2001 SG(2001) D/285133+285134+285135

MERGER PROCEDURE ARTICLE 6(1)(b) DECISION

SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE

PUBLIC VERSION

To the notifying parties

Dear Sirs,

Subject: Case No. COMP/M.2252 Kuoni/TRX/e-TRX/TRX Central Europe JV Notification of 07.12.2000 pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 14064/89 Publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities No. C 362, 16.12.2000, page 7.

(1) On 7 December 2000, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/892 by which the undertakings Kuoni Travel Holding AG („Kuoni“), of Switzerland, TRX Inc., controlled by the Dutch BCD Group and the British Hogg Robinson plc., and e-TRX Ltd., controlled by TRX and Hogg-Robinson acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of a newly created company, TRX Central Europe AG, by way of purchase of shares.

(2) The business activities of the undertakings concerned are :

Kuoni: tour operator, provider of business travel services

TRX: online fulfilment services, customer support, technical services and data management for the online travel industry in the United States

1 OJ L 395, 30.12.1989 p. 1; corrected version OJ L 257 of 21.9.1990, p. 13, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1310/97, OJ L 180, 9.7.1997, p. 1, corrigendum in OJ L 40, 13.2.1998, p. 17.

2 OJ L 395, 30.12.1989 p. 1; corrigendum OJ L 257 of 21.9.1990, p. 13; Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1310/97 (OJ L 180, 9. 7. 1997, p. 1, corrigendum OJ L 40, 13.2.1998, p. 17).

Rue de la Loi 200, B-1049 Bruxelles/Wetstraat 200, B-1049 Brussel - Belgium Telephone: exchange 299.11.11 Telex: COMEU B 21877. Telegraphic address: COMEUR Brussels.

e-TRX: online fulfilment services, customer support, technical services and data management for the online travel industry in the United Kingdom

TRX Central Europe: joint venture providing online fulfilment services for the online travel industry in Switzerland and Germany

(3) After examination of the notification, the Commission has concluded that the notified operation falls within the scope of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 4064/89 and of paragraph 4, subparagraph b, of the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89.

(4) To the extent that restrictions specified by the parties are directly related and necessary to the implementation of the concentration, these restrictions are covered pursuant to Article 6(1)(b), second subparagraph, of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 4064/89.

(5) 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 (EEC) No. 4064/89.

For the Commission, Mario Monti Member of the Commission

3 OJ C 217, 29.07.2000, p. 32.

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