Case No COMP/M.4378 - PROVIDENCE / CAUDWELL GROUP

Only the English text is available and authentic.

REGULATION (EC) No 139/2004 MERGER PROCEDURE

Article 6(1)(b) NON-OPPOSITION Date: 18/09/2006

In electronic form on the EUR-Lex website under document number 32006M4378

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

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 18.09.2006

SG-Greffe(2006) D/205212

PUBLIC VERSION

MERGER PROCEDURE ARTICLE 6(1)(b) DECISION

SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE

To the notifying party

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

1.On 21/08/2006, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 by which the undertaking Providence Equity Offshore Partners V, LP (ìProvidenceî, Cayman Islands) belonging to the group Providence Equity Partners, acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Caudwell Holdings Limited (ìCaudwell Groupî, UK) by way of purchase of shares. Shortly after completion of the transaction, Providence intends to sell on part of the acquired Caudwell Group business as part of a related transaction.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

-- for Providence: private investment fund of Providence Equity Partners Inc. which is a global private investment firm specializing in equity investments in media and communications companies;

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.

-- for Caudwell Group: sale of mobile phones and related services, mobile handset distribution and repair services, insurance products and recruitment of personnel.

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, subparagraph b, 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 Philip LOWE Director General

2OJ C 56, 05.3.2005 p.32

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