2.12.2004   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 297/3

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3642 — CARLYLE/ADVENT/HT TROPLAST)

(2004/C 297/03)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1.

On 22 November 2004, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertakings The Carlyle Group (‘Carlyle’, Cayman Islands) and Advent International Corporation (‘Advent’, USA) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking HT Troplast AG (‘Troplast’, Germany) by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

for undertaking Carlyle: private equity investments,

—

for undertaking Advent: private equity investments,

—

for undertaking HT Troplast: manufacture, marketing and sales of vinyl profiles for windows and doors, vinyl sheets and vinyl shutters, cross-linked polyolefin foam products and vulcanised fibre for abrasive discs and other applications.

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

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. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (No 32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.3642 — Carlyle/Advent/HT Troplast, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition,

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.