# C_2014352EN.01001601.xml

| 7.10.2014 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 352/16 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

7.10.2014

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 352/16

---

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7333 — Alitalia/Etihad)

(Text with EEA relevance)

2014/C 352/09

| 1. | On 29 September 2014, 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 Alitalia Compagnia Aerea Italiana SpA (‘Alitalia’, Italy) and Etihad Airways PJSC (‘Etihad’, United Arab Emirates) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of New Alitalia (Italy), a newly incorporated joint venture which will receive Alitalia’s operating business as a going concern, by way of purchase of shares. As part of the same transaction, Etihad will acquire sole control over Alitalia Loyalty SpA (‘Alitalia Loyalty’), a subsidiary of Alitalia active in the management of Alitalia’s frequent flyer programme from New Alitalia. |
| --- | --- |

1.

On 29 September 2014, 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 Alitalia Compagnia Aerea Italiana SpA (‘Alitalia’, Italy) and Etihad Airways PJSC (‘Etihad’, United Arab Emirates) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of New Alitalia (Italy), a newly incorporated joint venture which will receive Alitalia’s operating business as a going concern, by way of purchase of shares. As part of the same transaction, Etihad will acquire sole control over Alitalia Loyalty SpA (‘Alitalia Loyalty’), a subsidiary of Alitalia active in the management of Alitalia’s frequent flyer programme from New Alitalia.

1

| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   for Alitalia: Alitalia is Italy’s national carrier active in domestic and international air transport,
  —   for Alitalia Loyalty: Alitalia Loyalty is a separate legal entity fully dedicated to the operation and development of Alitalia’s customer loyalty programme named ‘MilleMiglia Programme’, and
  —   for Etihad: Etihad is the national carrier of Abu Dhabi active in international air transport. |
| --- | --- |

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for Alitalia: Alitalia is Italy’s national carrier active in domestic and international air transport,

for Alitalia

—   for Alitalia Loyalty: Alitalia Loyalty is a separate legal entity fully dedicated to the operation and development of Alitalia’s customer loyalty programme named ‘MilleMiglia Programme’, and

for Alitalia Loyalty

—   for Etihad: Etihad is the national carrier of Abu Dhabi active in international air transport.

for Etihad

| 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. |
| --- | --- |

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.

| 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.7333 — Alitalia/Etihad to the following address:





  European Commission |
| --- | --- |
| 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.7333 — Alitalia/Etihad to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

---

(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘Merger Regulation’).

1

---