# C_2015263EN.01000201.xml

| 11.8.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 263/2 |
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11.8.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 263/2

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7652 — Raiffeisen Zentralbank Österreich/Valida Holding)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 263/02)

| 1. | On 3 August 2015 the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Raiffeisen Zentralbank Österreich AG (‘RZB’, Austria) acquire(s) within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of Valida Holding AG (‘Valida’, Austria) by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 3 August 2015 the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Raiffeisen Zentralbank Österreich AG (‘RZB’, Austria) acquire(s) within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of Valida Holding AG (‘Valida’, Austria) by way of purchase of shares.

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






  — | RZB is the central institution of the Raiffeisen Banking Group Austria. It is active in financial services and also provides a number of services to its members (the cooperative). Its activities focus on Austria, but is also present in Central and Eastern Europe through its shareholding in Raiffeisen Bank International, a banking group. |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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RZB is the central institution of the Raiffeisen Banking Group Austria. It is active in financial services and also provides a number of services to its members (the cooperative). Its activities focus on Austria, but is also present in Central and Eastern Europe through its shareholding in Raiffeisen Bank International, a banking group.

| — | Valida is active in providing company pension plans in Austria, through offering staff pension funds and dismissal pay funds. |
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Valida is active in providing company pension plans in Austria, through offering staff pension funds and dismissal pay funds.

| 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 email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.7652 — Raiffeisen Zentralbank Österreich/Valida Holding, 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 email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.7652 — Raiffeisen Zentralbank Österreich/Valida Holding, 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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