# C_2008298EN.01000901.xml

| 21.11.2008 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 298/9 |
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21.11.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 298/9

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.5363 — Santander/Bradford & Bingley Assets)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2008/C 298/05)

| 1. | On 12 November 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 Abbey National plc (‘Abbey’, United Kingdom), controlled by the undertaking Banco Santander SA (‘Santander’, Spain), acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of part of Bradford & Bingley plc (‘Bradford & Bingley Assets’, United Kingdom) by way of purchase of assets. |
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1.

On 12 November 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 Abbey National plc (‘Abbey’, United Kingdom), controlled by the undertaking Banco Santander SA (‘Santander’, Spain), acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of part of Bradford & Bingley plc (‘Bradford & Bingley Assets’, United Kingdom) by way of purchase of assets.

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






  — | for Abbey: personal financial services including current and savings accounts, loans, credit cards, mortgages, investments and pensions. Abbey is also active in corporate banking services, financial market services and distributes third-party insurance products, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for Abbey: personal financial services including current and savings accounts, loans, credit cards, mortgages, investments and pensions. Abbey is also active in corporate banking services, financial market services and distributes third-party insurance products,

| — | for Santander: parent company of an international group of banking and financial companies operating in the UK, Spain and some other European countries, as well as in Latin America, |
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for Santander: parent company of an international group of banking and financial companies operating in the UK, Spain and some other European countries, as well as in Latin America,

| — | for Bradford & Bingley Assets: retail banking (savings and mortgage lending). |
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for Bradford & Bingley Assets: retail banking (savings and mortgage lending).

| 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. |
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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.

| 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.5363 — Santander/Bradford & Bingley Assets, to the following address:





  European Commission |
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| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| J-70 |
| B-1049 Brussels |

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.5363 — Santander/Bradford & Bingley Assets, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Brussels

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

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