# C_2008244EN.01002101.xml

| 25.9.2008 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 244/21 |
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25.9.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 244/21

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.5321 — LAHC/Barclays Life)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2008/C 244/07)

| 1. | On 12 September 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 Life Assurance Holding Corporation Limited (‘LAHC’, United Kingdom) controlled by undertaking Swiss Reinsurance Company (‘Swiss Re’, Switzerland) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Barclays Life Assurance Company Limited and its wholly owned subsidiary BLAC Limited (‘Barclays Life’, United Kingdom) by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 12 September 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 Life Assurance Holding Corporation Limited (‘LAHC’, United Kingdom) controlled by undertaking Swiss Reinsurance Company (‘Swiss Re’, Switzerland) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Barclays Life Assurance Company Limited and its wholly owned subsidiary BLAC Limited (‘Barclays Life’, United Kingdom) by way of purchase of shares.

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






  — | for undertaking LAHC: specialist acquirer and consolidator of life assurance companies, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for undertaking LAHC: specialist acquirer and consolidator of life assurance companies,

| — | for undertaking Swiss Re: supplier of reinsurance world-wide, life and non-life insurance, |
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for undertaking Swiss Re: supplier of reinsurance world-wide, life and non-life insurance,

| — | for undertaking Barclays Life: supplier of life insurance in United Kingdom. Barclays Life is also holding a closed book of pensions/annuities business. |
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for undertaking Barclays Life: supplier of life insurance in United Kingdom. Barclays Life is also holding a closed book of pensions/annuities business.

| 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. |
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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.

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| 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.5321 — LAHC/Barclays Life to the following address:





  European Commission |
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| 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.5321 — LAHC/Barclays Life to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

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(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

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

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