Disclaimer :

The Competition DG makes the information provided by the notifying parties in section 4 of Short 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 4

Description of the concentration

This notification concerns the following undertakings:

• Harng Central Department Store Limited (together with the companies it controls, the ”Central Group”), Thailand, controlled by the Chirathivat family; and

• three German department stores owned and operated by The KaDeWe Group GmbH (“KaDeWe Group”), Germany, under administration by Mr. Christian Graf Brockdorff as custodian (Sachwalter), namely the “KaDeWe” retail store in Berlin, Germany (“KaDeWe”), the “Alsterhaus” retail store in Hamburg, Germany (“Alsterhaus”), the “Oberpollinger” retail store in Munich, Germany (“Oberpollinger”) (jointly the “KaDeWe Business”.

Central Group acquires, within the meaning of Article 3(1), point (b) of the Merger Regulation sole control over the KaDeWe Business.

The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of key assets.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

a. for Central Group: Central Group is a conglomerate holding company active in merchandising, real estate, retailing, hospitality, and restaurants. In the EEA, Central Group owns and operates department stores in the Netherlands, Ireland, Italy and Denmark and conducts property development activities in Austria and Germany.

b. for KaDeWe Business: The KaDeWe Business consists in the operation of three department stores in Germany, namely the “KaDeWe” retail store in Berlin, Germany, the “Alsterhaus” retail store in Hamburg, Germany and the “Oberpollinger” retail store in Munich, Germany. KaDeWe Group also operates an online shop under https://www.kadewe.de/. However, the operation of the online shop will be discontinued in the future and the associated assets are not part of the KaDeWe Business, which is the subject of the Proposed Transaction.

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