15.5.2018   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 167/21

1.

On 4 May 2018, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1).

This notification concerns the following undertakings:

AEA and BCI acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the whole of Springs.

The concentration is accomplished by way of a purchase of shares.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for AEA: private equity fund with investments in various sectors, in particular value added industrial products, specialty chemicals, consumer/retail and services,

—   for BCI: investing on behalf of public sector clients in fixed income, mortgages, public and private equity, real estate, infrastructure and renewable resources,

—   for Springs: manufacture and supply of a variety of window coverings, e.g. blinds, shades, shutters, draperies and retractable awnings. Springs distributes its products under the brands Bali, Graber, SWFcontract, Horizons, MechoSystems, Sunsetter, Mariak, and Patrician.

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under the Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

4.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. The following reference should always be specified:

M.8918 — AEA Investors/BCI/Springs

Observations can be sent to the Commission by email, by fax, or by post. Please use the contact details below: