# C_2016180EN.01000401.xml

| 19.5.2016 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 180/4 |
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19.5.2016

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 180/4

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7786 — VISA Inc./VISA Europe)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2016/C 180/04)

| 1. | On 10 May 2016, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Visa Inc. (USA) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of Visa Europe Limited (‘Visa Europe’, England and Wales) by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 10 May 2016, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Visa Inc. (USA) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of Visa Europe Limited (‘Visa Europe’, England and Wales) by way of purchase of shares.

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






  — | Visa Inc. operates a payment system under the VISA trademark and various ancillary services worldwide with the exception of the so-called ‘VE-Territory’, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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Visa Inc. operates a payment system under the VISA trademark and various ancillary services worldwide with the exception of the so-called ‘VE-Territory’,

| — | Visa Europe operates a payment system under the VISA trademark in the VE Territory, which includes all the EEA Member States, Switzerland, Turkey, Israel and some other neighbouring jurisdictions. |
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Visa Europe operates a payment system under the VISA trademark in the VE Territory, which includes all the EEA Member States, Switzerland, Turkey, Israel and some other neighbouring jurisdictions.

| 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 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 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.7786 — VISA Inc./VISA Europe, 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.7786 — VISA Inc./VISA Europe, 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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