# C_2004272EN.01000301.xml

| 6.11.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 272/3 |
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6.11.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 272/3

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3610 — FRIENDS PROVIDENT/LOMBARD/IDH)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2004/C 272/03)

(Text with EEA relevance)

| 1. | On 26 October 2004, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Friends Provident plc (‘Friends Provident’, UK) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertakings Lombard International Assurances SA (‘Lombard’, Luxembourg) and Insurance Development Holdings AG (‘IDH’, Switzerland) by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 26 October 2004, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Friends Provident plc (‘Friends Provident’, UK) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertakings Lombard International Assurances SA (‘Lombard’, Luxembourg) and Insurance Development Holdings AG (‘IDH’, Switzerland) by way of purchase of shares.

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






  — | for Friends Provident: Life insurance and pension products, asset management services, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for Friends Provident: Life insurance and pension products, asset management services,

| — | for Lombard: Life insurance products, |
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for Lombard: Life insurance products,

| — | for IDH: Financial holding company with operating subsidiaries active in marketing services. |
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for IDH: Financial holding company with operating subsidiaries active in marketing services.

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. 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 the Notice. |
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3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. 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 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 (No +32/2/2964301 or 2967244) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.3610 — Friends Provident/Lombard/IDH, to the following address:





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

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 (No +32/2/2964301 or 2967244) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.3610 — Friends Provident/Lombard/IDH, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition,

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

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(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

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(2)  Available on DG COMP website:

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http://europa.eu.int/comm/competition/mergers/legislation/consultation/simplified_tru.pdf.

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