# C_2014420EN.01002101.xml

| 22.11.2014 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 420/21 |
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22.11.2014

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 420/21

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7415 — Värde/Banco Popular/E-Com)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

2014/C 420/13

| 1. | On 14 November 2014, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Värde Partners, Inc. (‘Värde’, United States) and Banco Popular Español, S.A (‘Banco Popular’, Spain) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control over Bancopopular-E, S.A (‘E-Com’, Spain), by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 14 November 2014, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Värde Partners, Inc. (‘Värde’, United States) and Banco Popular Español, S.A (‘Banco Popular’, Spain) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control over Bancopopular-E, S.A (‘E-Com’, Spain), by way of purchase of shares.

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   Värde: a global investment firm, which focuses on credit and event driven strategies with a global investor base including foundations and endowments, pension plans, insurance companies and other institutional investors.
  —   Banco Popular: a Spanish listed firm which specializes in retail and commercial banking.
  —   E-Com: a provider of services related to the issuing of payment cards and retail banking activities in Spain. |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   Värde: a global investment firm, which focuses on credit and event driven strategies with a global investor base including foundations and endowments, pension plans, insurance companies and other institutional investors.

Värde

—   Banco Popular: a Spanish listed firm which specializes in retail and commercial banking.

Banco Popular

—   E-Com: a provider of services related to the issuing of payment cards and retail banking activities in Spain.

E-Com

| 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 the 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. |
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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 the 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.

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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 e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.7415 — Värde/Banco Popular/E-Com, 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 M.7415 — Värde/Banco Popular/E-Com, 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 ‘Merger Regulation’).

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

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