# C_2015250EN.01000901.xml

| 31.7.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 250/9 |
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31.7.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 250/9

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7672 — Volkswagen Financial Services/Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria/Volkswagen Credit Compania Financiera)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 250/06)

| 1. | On 17 July 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 Volkswagen Financial Services AG (‘VWFS’, Germany), a wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG (Germany) and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA (‘BBVA’, Spain) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control over Volkswagen Credit Compañía Financiera SA (‘VWCCF’, Argentina), by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 17 July 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 Volkswagen Financial Services AG (‘VWFS’, Germany), a wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG (Germany) and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA (‘BBVA’, Spain) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control over Volkswagen Credit Compañía Financiera SA (‘VWCCF’, Argentina), by way of purchase of shares.

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   for VWFS: coordination of the worldwide financial services activities of the Volkswagen Group in Europe, Asia-Pacific, Mexico and South America;
  —   for BBVA: provision of financial and non-financial services, including banking, pension and insurance in Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, France, Italy, Mexico, South America and USA;
  —   for VWCCF: provision of financial services to the automotive industry in Argentina. |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for VWFS: coordination of the worldwide financial services activities of the Volkswagen Group in Europe, Asia-Pacific, Mexico and South America;

for VWFS

—   for BBVA: provision of financial and non-financial services, including banking, pension and insurance in Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, France, Italy, Mexico, South America and USA;

for BBVA

—   for VWCCF: provision of financial services to the automotive industry in Argentina.

for VWCCF

| 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.7672 — Volkswagen Financial Services/Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria/Volkswagen Credit Compania Financiera, 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.7672 — Volkswagen Financial Services/Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria/Volkswagen Credit Compania Financiera, 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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