# C_2007193EN.01001301.xml

| 21.8.2007 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 193/13 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

21.8.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 193/13

---

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4725 — Merrill Lynch/Abbey National/JV)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2007/C 193/08)

| 1. | On 13 August 2007, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation 139/2004 (1) by which Merrill Lynch International, belonging to the Merrill Lynch Group (‘Merrill Lynch’, USA) and Abbey National plc (‘Abbey’, UK), belonging to the Banco Santander Group, acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of Concert Mortgages Holdings Ltd (‘Concert Mortgages’, UK), by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture. |
| --- | --- |

1.

On 13 August 2007, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation 139/2004 (1) by which Merrill Lynch International, belonging to the Merrill Lynch Group (‘Merrill Lynch’, USA) and Abbey National plc (‘Abbey’, UK), belonging to the Banco Santander Group, acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of Concert Mortgages Holdings Ltd (‘Concert Mortgages’, UK), by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture.

1

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






  — | for Merrill Lynch: banking and investment banking services, |
| --- | --- | --- |

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

for Merrill Lynch: banking and investment banking services,

| — | for Abbey/Santander: retail and corporate banking, |
| --- | --- |

—

for Abbey/Santander: retail and corporate banking,

| — | for Concert Mortgages: provision of non-conforming mortgages in the UK and payment protection insurance for those mortgages. |
| --- | --- |

—

for Concert Mortgages: provision of non-conforming mortgages in the UK and payment protection insurance for those mortgages.

| 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.4725 — Merrill Lynch/Abbey National/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.4725 — Merrill Lynch/Abbey National/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

---