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Case No COMP/M.5281 - NBC / BLACKSTONE / BAIN / LANDMARK (WEATHER BUSINESS)

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REGULATION (EC) No 139/2004 MERGER PROCEDURE

Article 6(1)(b) NON-OPPOSITION Date: 27/08/2008

In electronic form on the EUR-Lex website under document number 32008M5281

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

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 27-VIII-2008

SG-Greffe(2008) D/205238

C(2008) 4707

PUBLIC VERSION

MERGER PROCEDURE ARTICLE 6(1)(b) DECISION

SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE

To the notifying party:

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

Subject: Case No COMP/M.5281 - NBC/ Blackstone/ Bain/ Landmark Notification of 25/07/08 pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 Publication in the Official Journal of the European Union No C 194, 31/07/08, p. 21

1.On 25/07/08, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 by which the undertakings NBC Universal, Inc. (USA) controlled by the General Electric Company (USA), Bain Capital Fund X, L.P. controlled by Bain Capital investors, LLC (USA), and Blackstone Capital Partners V L.P., which is ultimately controlled by The Blackstone Group L.P. (USA) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking Landmark Communications, Inc. (USA) by way of purchase of shares.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

1OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

Commission européenne, B-1049 Bruxelles / Europese Commissie, B-1049 Brussel - Belgium. Telephone: (32-2) 299 11 11.

-- for NBC Universal: a diversified, international media and entertainment group mainly active in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information;

-- for Blackstone: leading global investment and advisory firm;

-- for Bain Capital: global private investment firm;

-- for Landmark: a media concern active in cable programming concentrated on weather information.

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 5, subparagraph c (i) of the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004.

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) Philip LOWE Director General

2OJ C 56, 05.3.2005, p. 32.

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