30.7.2015   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 249/13

1.

On 22 July 2015, 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 Ferholding UK Limited (United Kingdom), controlled by Ferrero International SA (‘Ferrero’, Luxembourg), acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of the whole of the undertaking Thorntons PLC (‘Thorntons’, United Kingdom), by way of public bid announced on 22 June 2015.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for Ferrero: the manufacturing and supply of confectionery and other sweet products (e.g. chocolate confectionery, candies, snacks and sweet spreadable products) worldwide,

—   for Thorntons: the manufacturing and sale of chocolate confectionery and other sweet products. In addition to supplying its products through third party retailers, Thorntons owns and operates a network of retail shops, predominantly in the United Kingdom, through which it supplies its own-brand products.

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the 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 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 this 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 M.7692 — Ferrero/Thorntons, to the following address: