# C_2012286EN.01002901.xml

| 22.9.2012 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 286/29 |
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22.9.2012

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 286/29

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.6720 — OAO VTB Bank/Corporate Commercial Bank/Bulgarian Telecommunications Company)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

2012/C 286/17

| 1. | On 17 September 2012, 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 OAO VTB Bank (‘VTB’, the Russian Federation) and Corporate Commercial Bank AD (‘Corporate Commercial Bank’, Bulgaria) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the undertaking Bulgarian Telecommunications Company AD (‘Bulgarian Telecommunications Company’, Bulgaria), by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 17 September 2012, 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 OAO VTB Bank (‘VTB’, the Russian Federation) and Corporate Commercial Bank AD (‘Corporate Commercial Bank’, Bulgaria) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the undertaking Bulgarian Telecommunications Company AD (‘Bulgarian Telecommunications Company’, Bulgaria), by way of purchase of shares.

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






  — | for VTB: internationally active financial institution, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for VTB: internationally active financial institution,

| — | for Corporate Commercial Bank: financial institution active in Bulgaria, |
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for Corporate Commercial Bank: financial institution active in Bulgaria,

| — | for Bulgarian Telecommunications Company: telecommunications and digital television in Bulgaria. |
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for Bulgarian Telecommunications Company: telecommunications and digital television in Bulgaria.

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the EC Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under the EC Merger Regulation (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 the EC Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under the EC Merger Regulation (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 22964301), by email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.6720 — OAO VTB Bank/Corporate Commercial Bank/Bulgarian Telecommunications Company, to the following address:





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

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 22964301), by email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.6720 — OAO VTB Bank/Corporate Commercial Bank/Bulgarian Telecommunications Company, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

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(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘EC Merger Regulation’).

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(2)  OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32 (‘Notice on a simplified procedure’).

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