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 proposed acquisition of sole control by Winvest16 S.A.S., which is ultimately controlled by Wendel S.E. (together with its controlled affiliates, “Wendel”) over IK Investment Partners S.À.R.L. (together with its controlled affiliates, “IK Partners”) within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) 139/2004 (the “EU Merger Regulation”) via purchase of 51% of IK Partners’ shares (the “Proposed Transaction”).

IK Partners is not currently controlled by another undertaking for EU Merger Regulation purposes. Following the completion of the Proposed Transaction, IK Partners will be solely controlled by Wendel.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

-- IK Partners is a European private equity firm headquartered in Luxembourg with offices across various Northern European countries focusing on making investments in the mid-market segment. IK Partners manages and advises private equity funds which invest in mid-market companies operating in the Business Services, Healthcare, Consumer and Industrials sectors mainly in the Benelux, DACH, France, Nordics and the UK. Currently, it manages and advises funds, which pool capital from third-party investors and since inception, has invested in 180+ companies.

-- Wendel is an investment firm headquartered in France listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange. Wendel focuses on investments in portfolio companies in Western Europe (particularly in France) and North America within sectors with long-term growth prospects including compliance and certification services, specialty formulations for coatings and surface treatments, training services in specialized areas, design and production of packaging solutions, consulting in digital transformation, project management and operational performance.

Commission européenne/Europese Commissie, 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel, BELGIQUE/BELGIË - Tel. +32 22991111