5.8.2005   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 191/10

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3874 — CVC/Ruhrgas Industries)

(2005/C 191/09)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1.

On 29 July 2005, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking CVC European Equity IV, belonging to the group CVC Capital Partners Group S.a.r.l. (‘CVC’; Luxembourg) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of Ruhrgas Industries (‘RI’, Germany) by way of purchase of shares.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

for CVC: equity funds; through the subsidiary Ista, active in metering services.

—

for RI: manufacture and sale of gas meters electricity meters, and water meters and related services (in particular maintenance and repair); manufacture and sale of industrial furnaces.

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 (fax no (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.3874 — CVC/Ruhrgas Industries 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.