# C_2007135EN.01002001.xml

| 19.6.2007 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 135/20 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

19.6.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 135/20

---

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4646 — AXA/Monte dei Paschi/JV)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2007/C 135/07)

| 1. | On 11 June 2007, 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 AXA S.A. (‘AXA’, France), acquires within the meaning of Articles 3(4) and 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertakings Monte Paschi Vita S.p.A. (‘MPS Vita’, Italy), and Monte Paschi Assicurazioni Danni S.p.A. (‘MPS Danni’, Italy), by way of purchase of shares. MPS Vita and MPS Danni are currently solely controlled by Banca Monte Paschi di Siena S.p.A. (‘BMPS’), Italy. BMPS will retain joint control over MPS Vita and MPS Danni, along with AXA. |
| --- | --- |

1.

On 11 June 2007, 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 AXA S.A. (‘AXA’, France), acquires within the meaning of Articles 3(4) and 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertakings Monte Paschi Vita S.p.A. (‘MPS Vita’, Italy), and Monte Paschi Assicurazioni Danni S.p.A. (‘MPS Danni’, Italy), by way of purchase of shares. MPS Vita and MPS Danni are currently solely controlled by Banca Monte Paschi di Siena S.p.A. (‘BMPS’), Italy. BMPS will retain joint control over MPS Vita and MPS Danni, along with AXA.

1

| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:






  — | for AXA: insurance and related financial services; |
| --- | --- | --- |

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

for AXA: insurance and related financial services;

| — | for BMPS: banking and related financial services; |
| --- | --- |

—

for BMPS: banking and related financial services;

| — | for MPS Vita: life insurance and related financial services; |
| --- | --- |

—

for MPS Vita: life insurance and related financial services;

| — | for MPS Danni: non-life insurance. |
| --- | --- |

—

for MPS Danni: non-life insurance.

| 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. |
| --- | --- |

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.

2

| 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.4646 — AXA/Monte dei Paschi/JV, to the following address:





  European Commission |
| --- | --- |
| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| J-70 |
| B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel |

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.4646 — AXA/Monte dei Paschi/JV, 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.

1

(2)  OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32.

2

---