21.3.2007   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 65/12

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4561 — GE/Smiths Aerospace)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2007/C 65/08)

1.

On 14 March 2007, 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 General Electric Company (‘GE’, USA) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the aerospace business of the undertaking Smiths Group plc (‘Smiths Aerospace’, United Kingdom) by way purchase of shares and assets.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

for GE: diversified industrial, technology and services group, active in various fields, including aircraft engines;

—

for Smiths Aerospace: manufacture and sale of various types of aerospace systems and equipments.

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 ((32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.4561 — GE/Smiths Aerospace, 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.