# C_2008296EN.01002701.xml

| 19.11.2008 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 296/27 |
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19.11.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 296/27

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.5339 — Santander/LASG/DCS)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2008/C 296/11)

| 1. | On 10 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 undertakings Banco Santander, SA (‘Santander’, Spain) and Lufthansa AirPlus Servicekarten GmbH (‘LASG’, Germany), which is controlled by the Deutsche Lufthansa Group, acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of Diners Club Spain (‘DCS’, Spain), which is at present controlled by Santander, by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 10 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 undertakings Banco Santander, SA (‘Santander’, Spain) and Lufthansa AirPlus Servicekarten GmbH (‘LASG’, Germany), which is controlled by the Deutsche Lufthansa Group, acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of Diners Club Spain (‘DCS’, Spain), which is at present controlled by Santander, by way of purchase of shares.

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






  — | for Santander: Spanish financial group globally active in the banking and financial sectors and operating mainly in Spain, the UK and some European countries, as well as in Latin America, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for Santander: Spanish financial group globally active in the banking and financial sectors and operating mainly in Spain, the UK and some European countries, as well as in Latin America,

| — | for LASG: German financial services institution, active in the segment of payment cards for business-related expenses, |
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for LASG: German financial services institution, active in the segment of payment cards for business-related expenses,

| — | for DCS: card acquiring and issuing businesses, in particular the creation and operation of all manner of payment cards and related services and operations mainly in the Spanish territory. |
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for DCS: card acquiring and issuing businesses, in particular the creation and operation of all manner of payment cards and related services and operations mainly in the Spanish territory.

| 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.5339 — Santander/LASG/DCS, 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.5339 — Santander/LASG/DCS, 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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(2)  OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32.

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