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Case No COMP/M.3521 - BRIDGEPOINT / PETS AT HOME GROUP

Only the English text is available and authentic.

REGULATION (EC) No 139/2004 MERGER PROCEDURE

Article 6(1)(b) NON-OPPOSITION Date: 09/08/2004

Also available in the CELEX database Document No 32004M3521

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

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 09-VIII-2004

SG-Greffe(2004) D/203451

PUBLIC VERSION

MERGER PROCEDURE ARTICLE 6(1)(b) DECISION

SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE

To the notifying party

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

1.On 08/07/2004, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004 by which the undertaking, Bridgepoint Europe II (ìBE IIî) which is ultimately controlled by Bridgepoint Capital Group Ltd (ìBridgepointî, UK), acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the above-mentioned Council Regulation, control of the whole of the undertaking Pets at Home Group Ltd (ìPets at Homeî), United Kingdom, by way of purchase of shares.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

-- for Bridgepoint: management of private equity funds;

-- for BE II : private equity investment fund

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 Pets at Home: supply of pet-related products (such as pet foods, pet accessories and small pets) and veterinary services.

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 4, subparagraph c, 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 (EC) No. 139/2004.

For the Commission

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2OJ C 217, 29.07.2000, p. 32; Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 has been replaced by Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004.

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