29.7.2009   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 176/32

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.5585 — Centrica/Venture Production)

(Text with EEA relevance)

2009/C 176/08

1.

On 22 July 2009, 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 Centrica Resources Limited (UK) controlled by Centrica plc (‘Centrica’, UK) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Venture Production plc (‘Venture’, UK) by way of public bid announced on 10 July 2009.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

for Centrica: a vertically integrated energy company, active mainly in production and supply of natural gas,

—

for Venture: exploration and production of natural gas and crude oil, mainly in the North Sea.

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 22964301 or 22967244) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.5585 — Centrica/Venture Production, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.