Case No COMP/M.3757 - 3i / PROVIDENCE / CROWN ENTERTAINMENT

Only the English text is available and authentic.

REGULATION (EC) No 139/2004 MERGER PROCEDURE

Article 6(1)(b) NON-OPPOSITION Date: 15/04/2005

In electronic form on the EUR-Lex website under document number 32005M3757

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

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 15/04/2005

SG-Greffe(2005) D/201789/90

MERGER PROCEDURE ARTICLE 6(1)(b) DECISION

SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE

PUBLIC VERSION

To the notifying parties

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

Subject: Case No. COMP/M. 3757 ñ 3i/Providence/Crown Entertainment Notification of 09/03/2005 pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004 Publication in the Official Journal of the European Union No. C 65, 17.03.2005

1.On 09/03/2005, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004 by which the undertakings 3i Group (ì3iî, UK) and Providence Equity Offshore Partners IV (ìProvidenceî, USA) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertakings Crown Entertainment (UK) and Crown Media International (USA) by way of purchase of shares.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are :

-- for 3i: international private equity house;

-- for Providence: global private investment firm specializing in media and communications companies;

-- for Crown Entertainment and Crown Media International: compile and distribute the Hallmark branded pay-TV channels.

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 paragraphs 5a and 5c 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) Neelie KROES Member of the Commission

2OJ C 56, 05.03.2005 p. 32

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