31.5.2016   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 192/4

1.

On 23 May 2016, 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 Marriott International, Inc. (‘Marriott’, United States) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (‘Starwood’, United States) by way of purchase of shares.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for Marriott: essentially manager and franchisor of hotels and timeshare properties in 85 countries and territories,

—   for Starwood: essentially manager and franchisor of hotels, resorts worldwide, with nearly 1 300 properties in approximately 100 countries.

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.

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 M.7902 — Marriott International/Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, to the following address: