EN

Case No COMP/M.3460 - CHARTERHOUSE / AUTOBAR

Only the English text is available and authentic.

REGULATION (EEC) No 139/2004 MERGER PROCEDURE

Article 6(1)(b) NON-OPPOSITION Date: 17/06/2004

Also available in the CELEX database Document No 304M3460

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

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 17/06/2004

SG-Greffe(2004) D/202395

PUBLIC VERSION

MERGER PROCEDURE ARTICLE 6(1)(b) DECISION

SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE

To the notifying party

Dear Madam and/or Sir,

1.On 17 May 2004, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004 by which the undertaking Charterhouse Capital Partners VII, controlled by Charterhouse Capital Limited (ìCharterhouseî, UK) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertakings Autobar Group Limited and Autobar Group B.V. (ìAutobarî, UK/Netherlands) by purchase of shares.

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.

2.The business activities of the undertakings concerned are :

-- for Charterhouse : equity capital and fund management services,

-- for Autobar : vending and food services, distribution of food services, packaging and disposables.

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

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2OJ C 217, 29.07.2000, p. 32; Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 has been replaced by Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004.

2