15.11.2012   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 349/21

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.6673 — Bolloré/Havas)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

2012/C 349/09

1.

On 7 November 2012, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the Bolloré group (France) acquire(s) within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the undertaking Havas SA (France) purchase of shares following a public offer launched by Havas SA.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

Havas SA is the company leading the Havas group, which is active in the sector of communications services, including traditional advertising, direct marketing, media planning and buying, corporate communications, sales promotion, design, human resources, sports marketing, multimedia interactive communications and public relations,

—

The Bolloré group is a diversified group operating in industry, energy distribution, transportation and logistics, media and telecoms.

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the EC Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under the EC Merger Regulation (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 22964301), by email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.6673 — Bolloré/Havas, 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 (the ‘EC Merger Regulation’).

(2)  OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32 (‘Notice on a simplified procedure’).