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Case No COMP/M.4324 - BLACKSTONE / TRAVELPORT

Only the English text is available and authentic.

REGULATION (EC) No 139/2004 MERGER PROCEDURE

Article 6(1)(b) NON-OPPOSITION Date: 22/08/2006

In electronic form on the EUR-Lex website under document number 32006M4324

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

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 22-VIII-2006 SG-Greffe(2006) D/204722

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.4324-Blackstone/Travelport Notification of 14.07.2006 pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004 Publication in the Official Journal of the European Union No. C 172 of 25/07/2006, p. 8.

1.On 14.07.2006, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004 by which the Blackstone Group (“Blackstone” USA) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation sole control of the whole of Travelport Inc. (“Travelport”, USA), via purchase of shares.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are :

-- Blackstone: a private merchant banking firm active mainly in financial advisory services, private equity and property investments;

-- Travelport: a geographically diverse collection of travel distribution brands and businesses

1OJ L 24, 29.1.2004 p. 1

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

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, c) 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 Philip LOWE Director General

2OJ C 56, 05.3.2005 p.32

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