# C_2016216EN.01001401.xml

| 16.6.2016 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 216/14 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

16.6.2016

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 216/14

---

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.8070 — Bancopopular-e/Assets of Barclays Bank)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2016/C 216/11)

| 1. | On 9 June 2016, the Commission received a notification of a proposed acquisition pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Bancopopular-e SA (‘E-Com’ or the ‘Acquirer’) acquires, within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation, sole control over the Barclays’ payment card business in Spain and Portugal (the ‘Target’) from Barclays Bank PLC (‘Barclays’ or the ‘Seller’). |
| --- | --- |

1.

On 9 June 2016, the Commission received a notification of a proposed acquisition pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Bancopopular-e SA (‘E-Com’ or the ‘Acquirer’) acquires, within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation, sole control over the Barclays’ payment card business in Spain and Portugal (the ‘Target’) from Barclays Bank PLC (‘Barclays’ or the ‘Seller’).

1

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






  — | E-Com provides services related to the issuing of payment cards in Spain. To a lesser extent, it also provides insurance mediation services and insurance distribution within the Spanish market. E-Com is joint venture jointly controlled by Banco Popular and certain private affiliated funds managed by Värde Partners Inc. (‘Värde’), |
| --- | --- | --- |

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

E-Com provides services related to the issuing of payment cards in Spain. To a lesser extent, it also provides insurance mediation services and insurance distribution within the Spanish market. E-Com is joint venture jointly controlled by Banco Popular and certain private affiliated funds managed by Värde Partners Inc. (‘Värde’),

| — | the Target comprises Barclays’ credit cards business in Portugal and Spain consisting of the origination, marketing and servicing of consumer credit accounts, consumer credit cards, consumer credit card products, consumer credit card payment products and consumer credit card lending. Additionally, the Target has a marginal presence in the market for the distribution of insurance services in Spain and Portugal. |
| --- | --- |

—

the Target comprises Barclays’ credit cards business in Portugal and Spain consisting of the origination, marketing and servicing of consumer credit accounts, consumer credit cards, consumer credit card products, consumer credit card payment products and consumer credit card lending. Additionally, the Target has a marginal presence in the market for the distribution of insurance services in Spain and Portugal.

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the 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 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 this Notice. |
| --- | --- |

3.

On preliminary examination, the 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 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 this Notice.

2

| 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 M.8070 — Bancopopular-e/Assets of Barclays Bank, to the following address:





  European Commission |
| --- | --- |
| 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 email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.8070 — Bancopopular-e/Assets of Barclays Bank, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

---

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

1

(2)  OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.

2

---