# C_2005020EN.01000301.xml

| 25.1.2005 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 20/3 |
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25.1.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 20/3

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3677 — Danske Bank/National Europe Holdings/Northern Bank Insurance Services)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2005/C 20/03)

(Text with EEA relevance)

| 1. | On 14 January 2005, 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 Danske Bank A/S (‘Danske Bank’, Denmark) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertakings National Europe Holdings Ltd (‘NEHIL’, Ireland) and Northern Bank Insurance Services Limited (‘NBIS’, Ireland) by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 14 January 2005, 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 Danske Bank A/S (‘Danske Bank’, Denmark) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertakings National Europe Holdings Ltd (‘NEHIL’, Ireland) and Northern Bank Insurance Services Limited (‘NBIS’, Ireland) by way of purchase of shares.

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






  — | for Danske Bank: financial services, mainly in Denmark and other Scandinavian countries, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for Danske Bank: financial services, mainly in Denmark and other Scandinavian countries,

| — | for NEHIL: holding company having sole ownership of the National Irish Bank Ltd and the Northern Bank Ltd., operating respectively in the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland (UK), |
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for NEHIL: holding company having sole ownership of the National Irish Bank Ltd and the Northern Bank Ltd., operating respectively in the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland (UK),

| — | for NBIS: wealth services and life insurance. |
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for NBIS: wealth services and life insurance.

| 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) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M. 3677 — Danske Bank/National Europe Holdings/Northern Bank Insurance Services, 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) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M. 3677 — Danske Bank/National Europe Holdings/Northern Bank Insurance Services, 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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