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Case No COMP/M.3508 - DOUGHTY HANSON / BALTA

Only the English text is available and authentic.

REGULATION (EC) No 139/2004 MERGER PROCEDURE

Article 6(1)(b) NON-OPPOSITION Date: 29/07/2004

Also available in the CELEX database Document No 304M3508

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

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 29 VII 2004 SG-Greffe(2004) D/203335

MERGER PROCEDURE ARTICLE 6(1)(b) DECISION

SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE

PUBLIC VERSION

To the notifying party:

Dear Madam and/or Sir,

1.On 25 June 2004, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004 by which the undertaking Doughty Hanson & Co limited (ìDHCî, the United Kingdom) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the Belgian undertaking Balta Industries N.V. (ìBaltaî) by share acquisition.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

-- for DHC: manager of equity investment funds whose primary activities are to make investments in a variety of operating companies through acquisitions and corporate restructuring on behalf of institutional and private investors.

-- for Balta: design, development, manufacture, marketing, sale and distribution of carpet (area rugs, broadloom carpet), laminate floor covering and vinyl wall covering.

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 paragraph 4, subparagraph b of the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89.

4.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 Mario MONTI Member of the Commission

2OJ C 217, 29.07.2000, p. 32; Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 has been replaced by Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004.

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