# C_2015312EN.01000201.xml

| 22.9.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 312/2 |
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22.9.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 312/2

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7715 — BNP Paribas/GE Capital (European Fleet Leasing Business))

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 312/02)

| 1. | On 14 September 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 undertaking BNP Paribas SA (‘BNP Paribas’, France) acquires via its wholly-owned subsidiary Arval Service Lease SA within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control over the European vehicle fleet leasing business (the ‘Target’) of General Electric Capital Corporation (‘GE’, USA), by way of purchase of securities and assets. |
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1.

On 14 September 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 undertaking BNP Paribas SA (‘BNP Paribas’, France) acquires via its wholly-owned subsidiary Arval Service Lease SA within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control over the European vehicle fleet leasing business (the ‘Target’) of General Electric Capital Corporation (‘GE’, USA), by way of purchase of securities and assets.

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






  — | BNP Paribas SA is the parent company of the BNP Paribas Group. The Group’s business can be divided into two main branches: (i) retail banking and services, and (ii) corporate and institutional banking. Within the first branch, apart from its activity of retail banking, it also provides other services such as vehicle fleet leasing and management services via Arval Service Lease SA. |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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BNP Paribas SA is the parent company of the BNP Paribas Group. The Group’s business can be divided into two main branches: (i) retail banking and services, and (ii) corporate and institutional banking. Within the first branch, apart from its activity of retail banking, it also provides other services such as vehicle fleet leasing and management services via Arval Service Lease SA.

| — | The Target is active in long term vehicle fleet leasing and management services in 12 European countries. |
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The Target is active in long term vehicle fleet leasing and management services in 12 European countries.

| 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.7715 — BNP Paribas/GE Capital (European Fleet Leasing Business), 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.7715 — BNP Paribas/GE Capital (European Fleet Leasing Business), 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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