Case No COMP/M.3278 - CVC / TPG / DEBENHAMS

Only the English text is available and authentic.

REGULATION (EEC) No 4064/89 MERGER PROCEDURE

Article 6(1)(b) NON-OPPOSITION Date: 05/11/2003

Also available in the CELEX database Document No 303M3278

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

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 05/11/2003

SG (2003) D/232753, 232754

PUBLIC VERSION

MERGER PROCEDURE ARTICLE 6(1)(b) DECISION

SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE

To the notifying parties

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

Subject: Case No. COMP/M.3278 - CVC/TPG/Debenhams Notification of 3.10.2003 pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 14064/89 Publication in the Official Journal of the European Union No. C 245, 11.10.2003, page 35

1.On 3.10.2003, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 4064/89 by which the undertakings CVC Capital Partners Group Limited, Capital Partners (Luxembourg) S.A. ("CVC", the United Kingdom) and TPG Advisors III, Inc. ("TPG", USA) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of Debenhams plc ("Debenhams", the United Kingdom) by way of a court procedure under UK company law.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

-- CVC: investment company

-- TPG: investment company

-- Debenhams: retailing a range of consumer, household and non-food goods

1OJ L 395, 30.12.1989 p. 1; corrected version OJ L 257 of 21.9.1990, p. 13, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1310/97, OJ L 180, 9.7.1997, p. 1, corrigendum in OJ L 40, 13.2.1998, p. 17.

Commission europÈenne, 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 (EEC) No. 4064/89 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.

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 (EEC) No. 4064/89.

For the Commission (Signed) Mario MONTI Member of the Commission

2OJ C 217, 29.07.2000, p. 32.

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