# C_2013231EN.01000701.xml

| 9.8.2013 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 231/7 |
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9.8.2013

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 231/7

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.6978 — Banco Popular SA/Group Crédit Mutuel/ATM Business)

(Text with EEA relevance)

2013/C 231/08

| 1. | On 2 August 2013, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Banco Popular Español SA (‘Banco Popular’, Spain) and Group Crédit Mutuel (‘Crédit Mutuel’, France) acquire joint control of a newly created company (‘ATM Business’, Spain) constituting a full function joint venture within the meaning of Article 3(4) of the Merger Regulation. |
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1.

On 2 August 2013, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Banco Popular Español SA (‘Banco Popular’, Spain) and Group Crédit Mutuel (‘Crédit Mutuel’, France) acquire joint control of a newly created company (‘ATM Business’, Spain) constituting a full function joint venture within the meaning of Article 3(4) of the Merger Regulation.

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






  — | for Banco Popular SA: commercial, retail, investment and wholesale banking activities as well as the provision of insurance services, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for Banco Popular SA: commercial, retail, investment and wholesale banking activities as well as the provision of insurance services,

| — | for Group Crédit Mutuel: retail banking and insurance, |
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for Group Crédit Mutuel: retail banking and insurance,

| — | for ATM Business: provision of the services necessary for the authorization, data capture, process, settlement and reconciliation of ATM transactions effected by cardholders located in Spain. |
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for ATM Business: provision of the services necessary for the authorization, data capture, process, settlement and reconciliation of ATM transactions effected by cardholders located in Spain.

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the European Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the 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 Merger Regulation 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 European Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the 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 Merger Regulation it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

| 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 e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.6978 — Banco Popular SA/Group Crédit Mutuel/ATM Business, to the following address:





  European Commission |
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| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| 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 e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.6978 — Banco Popular SA/Group Crédit Mutuel/ATM Business, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

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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