22.12.2005   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 325/5


Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4075 — Providence/Carlyle/Com Hem)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2005/C 325/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1.

On 14 December 2005, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1), by which Carlyle Europe Partners II L. P. (‘Carlyle’, USA) and Providence Equity Offshore Partners V LP (‘Providence’, Cayman Islands ) acquire, within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation, joint control of Nordic Communication Services AB, the ultimate parent of the Com Hem Group, by way of purchase of shares.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

for Carlyle: private global investment firm;

for Providence: private investment fund of Providence Equity Partners Inc. which is a global private investment firm specializing in equity investments in media and communications companies;

for Com Hem Group: provision of cable TV, telephony and broadband services in Sweden.

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified concentration could fall within the scope of Regulation (EEC) 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 (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.4075 — Providence/Carlyle/Com Hem to the following address:

European Commission

Competition DG

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Brussels


(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

(2)  OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32.