12.5.2017   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 148/5

1.

On 4 May 2017, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which funds managed by Pollen Street Capital Limited (‘Pollen Street Capital’, UK) and funds managed by BC Partners LLP (‘BC Partners’, UK) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of Shawbrook Group plc (‘Shawbrook’ UK) by way of purchase of shares.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   Pollen Street Capital: a private equity firm focussed on investing in businesses in the financial services sector in Europe,

—   BC Partners: a private equity firm focusing on the European and North American markets,

—   Shawbrook: specialist UK lending and savings bank specialised in serving the small and medium sized enterprises and individuals in the UK through a range of lending and saving 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 M.8471 — BC Partners/PSC/Shawbrook, to the following address: