Disclaimer :

The Competition DG makes the information provided by the notifying parties in section 1.2 of Form CO available to the public in order to increase transparency. This information has been prepared by the notifying parties under their sole responsibility, and its content in no way prejudges the view the Commission may take of the planned operation. Nor can the Commission be held responsible for any incorrect or misleading information contained therein.

SECTION 1.2

Description of the concentration

[1] SEB Internationale S.A.S. intends to acquire 100% of the shares in and sole control over

Finedining Topco GmbH which indirectly holds all shares in WMF Group GmbH and its

subsidiaries (“WMF Group”). The Transaction constitutes a concentration within the

meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of Council Regulation EC No. 139/2004.

[2] SEB Internationale S.A.S. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEB S.A., a French-based

publicly listed global manufacturer of small household appliances, i.e. small non-electric

kitchen appliances, small electric kitchen appliances and small electric appliances in the area

of home and personal care.

[3] SEB S.A.’s business segment of small non-electric kitchen appliances covers (i) the

designing, manufacturing and distribution of cookware, such as pots, pans and pressure

cookers in various sizes and made of various materials, (ii) bakeware products, including

baking pans, (iii) cutlery sets, (iv) various non-electric kitchen devices, mainly for food

preparation and processing and (v) a variety of food storage containers.

[4] SEB S.A.’s business segment of small electric kitchen appliances includes the designing,

manufacturing and distribution of a broad range of food cooking and preparation appliances,

such as sandwich makers, electric barbecue and indoor grills, waffle makers, toasters, steam

cookers, mixers, blenders, kitchen machines, espresso machines, coffee makers and water

kettles.

[5] In the business segment of small electric appliances in the area of home and personal care,

SEB S.A. designs, manufactures and distributes electrical devices such as hair dryers,

epilators, linen and garment care equipment such as irons and as well as home care/cleaning

equipment such as vacuum cleaners and heaters.

[6] The brand portfolio of SEB S.A. is made up of the following six international brands: (i)

Tefal, (ii) Moulinex, (iii) Krups, (iv) Rowenta, (v) Lagostina and (vi) All-Clad. SEB S.A.

also offers its products under local brands including Calor (France and Belgium), EMSA

(Germany), OBH Nordica (Scandinavia) and SEB (France) within the EEA.

[7] WMF Group is a manufacturer and distributor of coffee machines and tableware for

professional use as well as for electric and non-electric food and kitchen appliances.

[8] Under its brands WMF and Schaerer, WMF Group designs, manufactures and distributes

professional coffee machines. The distribution of professional tableware equipment for

hotels and restaurants is made under the brands WMF and HEPP.

[9] WMF Group’s business segment of electric kitchen appliances covers a wide range of

products, such as mixers, smoothie makers, blenders, toasters, water kettles, raclettes and

grills, waffle makers and kitchen machines.

[10] The non-electric food and kitchen appliances business segment of WMF Group covers (i) the

production and distribution of various home- and tableware products, such as cutlery sets

made of different materials or dining and drinking appliances, (ii) cookware, including pots,

pans and pressure cookers in various sizes and made of different materials, (iii) kitchen

utensils for food and drinking preparation purposes, (iv) food storage containers and (v)

bakeware products.

[11] Electric and non-electric food and kitchen appliances are distributed by WMF Group under

its WMF, Kaiser and Silit brands.