Brussels, 10.1.2017

C(2017) 154 final

Subject:Case M.8288 – PERMIRA / SCHUSTERMANN & BORENSTEIN
Commission decision pursuant to Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 1 and Article 57 of the Agreement on the European Economic Area 2  

Dear Sir or Madam,

1.On 6 December 2016, the European Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of the Merger Regulation by which which the undertaking Permira Holdings Limited (‘Permira’, Guernsey), indirectly through funds managed or advised by it, acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Schustermann & Borenstein Holding GmbH (‘S&B’, Germany) by way of purchase of shares. 3

2.The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

-for Permira: Private equity investments in a variety of industries;

-for S&B: Retail of fashion products through online website ( www.bestsecret.com ) and three physical stores, which are located in Austria and Germany.

3.After examination of the notification, the European Commission has concluded that the notified operation falls within the scope of the Merger Regulation and of paragraph 5(c) of the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. 4

4.For the reasons set out in the Notice on a simplified procedure, the European Commission has decided not to oppose the notified operation and to declare it compatible with the internal market and with the EEA Agreement. This decision is adopted in application of Article 6(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation and Article 57 of the EEA Agreement.

For the Commission


(Signed)
Johannes LAITENBERGER
Director-General

(1)

   OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the 'Merger Regulation'). With effect from 1 December 2009, the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union ('TFEU') has introduced certain changes, such as the replacement of 'Community' by 'Union' and 'common market' by 'internal market'. The terminology of the TFEU will be used throughout this decision.

(2)      OJ L 1, 3.1.1994, p. 3 (the 'EEA Agreement').

(3)      Publication in the Official Journal of the European Union No C 463, 13.12.2016, p. 18.

(4)

     OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.