# C_2004137EN.01000201.xml

| 15.5.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 137/2 |
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15.5.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 137/2

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case No. COMP/M.3422 - BBVA/BNL/JV)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2004/C 137/02)

(Text with EEA relevance)

| 1. | On 3 May 2004, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1310/97 (2), by which the undertakings Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. (‘BBVA’, Spain) and Banca Nazionale del Lavoro S.p.A. (‘BNL’, Italy) acquire(s) within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking Joint Venture by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture. |
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1.

On 3 May 2004, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1310/97 (2), by which the undertakings Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. (‘BBVA’, Spain) and Banca Nazionale del Lavoro S.p.A. (‘BNL’, Italy) acquire(s) within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking Joint Venture by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture.

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






  — | BBVA: retail banking, wholesale banking and other banking services in Europe and Latin America |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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BBVA: retail banking, wholesale banking and other banking services in Europe and Latin America

| — | BNL: banking and investments, e-banking services, factoring, leasing, asset management, trust services, consumer financing, insurance, telecommunications services and infrastructure, publishing and publicity |
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BNL: banking and investments, e-banking services, factoring, leasing, asset management, trust services, consumer financing, insurance, telecommunications services and infrastructure, publishing and publicity

| — | Joint Venture: consumer financing in Italy |
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Joint Venture: consumer financing in Italy

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified concentration could fall within the scope of Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89. 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 (EEC) No 4064/89 (3) 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 concentration could fall within the scope of Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89. 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 (EEC) No 4064/89 (3) 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 (fax no. (32-2) 2964301 or 2967244) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.3422 - BBVA/BNL/JV, 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 (fax no. (32-2) 2964301 or 2967244) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.3422 - BBVA/BNL/JV, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Brussels

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(1)  OJ L 395, 30.12.1989 p. 1; corrigendum: OJ L 257, 21.9.1990, p. 13.

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(2)  OJ L 180, 9. 7. 1997, p. 1; corrigendum OJ L 40, 13.2.1998, p. 17.

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(3)  OJ C 217, 29.7.2000, p. 32.

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