30.7.2008   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 193/8

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.5282 — Barclays/Computerlinks)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2008/C 193/05)

1.

On 22 July 2008, 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 CSS Computer Security Solutions Erwerbs GmbH (‘CSS’, Germany) controlled by Barclays Private Equity Ltd (‘Barclays Private Equity’, United Kingdom) belonging to the group Barclays Bank plc (‘Barclays’, United Kingdom) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Computerlinks AG (‘Computerlinks’, Germany) by way of public bid announced on 4 July 2008.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

for CSS: acquisition vehicle,

—

for Barclays Private Equity: private equity business of Barclays,

—

for Barclays: bank providing universal financial services to private and corporate clients,

—

for Computerlinks: wholesaler of information technology products in the field of electronic security as well as provider of related services.

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. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under 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. 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.5282 — Barclays/Computerlinks, 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.

(2)  OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32.