C_202406998EN.000101.fmx.xml

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.11710 – OEP / E. WINKEMANN)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(C/2024/6998)

On 8 November 2024, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 and following a referral pursuant to Article 4(5) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1).

This notification concerns the following undertakings:

—	OEP Capital Advisors, L.P. (‘OEP’, United States)

—	E. Winkemann GmbH (‘E. Winkemann’, Germany)

OEP will acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of of E. Winkemann.

The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are the following:

—

OEP is a middle-market private equity firm focused on transformative combinations within the industrial, healthcare and technology sectors in North America and Europe. OEP acquired and combined both Associated Spring (a manufacturer of custom engineered components designed for a range of industrial, medical, aerospace and defence, and automotive applications) and its subsidiary Heinz Hänggi (active in stamped and formed parts, precision stamping, microstamping, and the assembly of units sector).

—

E. Winkemann GmbH is a manufacturer of precision stamped metal products primarily for the automotive industry. The company’s core products include components for automotive powertrains, such as gearbox, axel gear, engine technology, chassis and e-mobility solutions. E. Winkemann is headquartered in Plettenberg, Germany and in 2019 it opened a manufacturing facility in Kunshan, China.

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 treatment for certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 on the control of concentrations between undertakings (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

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.11710 – OEP / E. WINKEMANN

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

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

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’).

(2) OJ C 160, 5.5.2023, p. 1.