# C_2015082EN.01000601.xml

| 10.3.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 82/6 |
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10.3.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 82/6

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7514 — American Express/Credit Suisse/Swisscard)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 82/07)

| 1. | On 3 March 2015, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertakings American Express Swiss Holdings GmbH, ultimately controlled by American Express Company (together American Express, United States) and Credit Suisse Group AG (Credit Suisse, Switzerland) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and Article 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the undertaking Swisscard AECS GmbH (Swisscard, Switzerland) by way of purchase of shares in a company constituting a joint venture. |
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1.

On 3 March 2015, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertakings American Express Swiss Holdings GmbH, ultimately controlled by American Express Company (together American Express, United States) and Credit Suisse Group AG (Credit Suisse, Switzerland) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and Article 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the undertaking Swisscard AECS GmbH (Swisscard, Switzerland) by way of purchase of shares in a company constituting a joint venture.

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   for American Express: provision of credit card financial services and business and leisure travel services to consumers and businesses around the world; payment card issuing and merchant acquiring worldwide,
  —   for Credit Suisse: provision of financial services to individuals, businesses and institutional customers worldwide,
  —   for Swisscard: general purpose card issuing and American Express merchant acquiring in Switzerland and Lichtenstein. |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for American Express: provision of credit card financial services and business and leisure travel services to consumers and businesses around the world; payment card issuing and merchant acquiring worldwide,

for American Express

—   for Credit Suisse: provision of financial services to individuals, businesses and institutional customers worldwide,

for Credit Suisse

—   for Swisscard: general purpose card issuing and American Express merchant acquiring in Switzerland and Lichtenstein.

for Swisscard

| 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.7514 — American Express/Credit Suisse/Swisscard, 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.7514 — American Express/Credit Suisse/Swisscard, 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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