15.2.2008   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 41/21

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4955 — Hermes Logistik/Swiss Post Porta a Porta)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2008/C 41/10)

1.

On 6 February 2008, 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 Hermes Logistik GmbH & Co. KG (‘Hermes’, Germany) via its 100 % subsidiary Hermes General Service Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH (‘HLS’, Germany) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking Swiss Post Porta a Porta SpA (‘PaP’, Italy), together with Swiss Post International Holding AG (‘Swiss Post’, Switzerland) by way of purchase of shares.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

for Hermes: logistic and postal services in B2C & C2C segments in Germany and Austria including parcel service, white goods & furniture service and mail service (letters, mailings, catalogues),

—

for PaP: postal services and logistics in Italy,

—

for Swiss Post: bulk mailing service for letters in Switzerland and abroad, customs clearance, parcel post, courier and express services.

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. 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 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 ((32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.4955 — Hermes Logistik/Swiss Post Porta a Porta, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

(2)  OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32.