Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.10745 – EMIL FREY / FCA CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE / FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES CR / FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES SR)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2022/C 255/09)

On 27 June 2022, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1).

This notification concerns the following undertakings:

—	Emil Frey Automobil s.r.o (Slovakia), (ii) Emil Frey Automobil s.r.o. (Czech Republic) and (iii) Emil Frey Automobil Holding Kft. (Hungary), all controlled by Emil Frey Holding AG (Switzerland). Emil Frey Holding AG and its subsidiaries together constitute the Emil Frey Group (‘Emil Frey Group’),

—	Fiat Chrysler Automobiles SR, s.r.o. (Slovakia) (ii) Fiat Chrysler Automobiles ČR s.r.o. (Czech Republic), (iii) FCA Central and Eastern Europe Ltd. (Hungary) (together the ‘Target Companies’), controlled by FCA Italy S.p.A., belonging to the Stellantis group.

The Emil Frey Group will acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of the Target Companies.

The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are the following:

—	Emil Frey Group is a worldwide player in car distribution. Emil Frey is already importer and distributor of the Stellantis brands Citroën, DS, Peugeot, Opel in the Czech Republic and in Slovakia and of the Stellantis brands brands Citroën, Peugeot, and DS in Hungary,

—	The Target Companies’ core business is the wholesale distribution of new vehicles, accessories, spare parts and aftersales support of the Stellantis brands Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Fiat Professional (LCVs), Jeep and Abarth in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia.

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.

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. The following reference should always be specified:

M.10745 – EMIL FREY / FCA CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE / FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES CR / FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES SR

Observations can be sent to the Commission by email, by fax, or by post. Please use the contact details below:

Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu

Fax +32 22964301

Postal address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

(1) OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘Merger Regulation’).