# C_2017401EN.01002001.xml

| 25.11.2017 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 401/20 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

25.11.2017

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 401/20

---

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.8679 — Blackstone/Banco Popular real estate business)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2017/C 401/08)

| 1. | On 17 November 2017, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1).
  This notification concerns the following undertakings:






  — | the Blackstone Group L.P. (‘Blackstone’, USA), |
| --- | --- | --- |

1.

On 17 November 2017, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1).

1

This notification concerns the following undertakings:

—

the Blackstone Group L.P. (‘Blackstone’, USA),

| — | certain loans and real property of Banco Popular Español SA (Spain) and of its real estate management company, Aliseda Servicios de Gestión Inmobiliaria, SL (Spain) (both ‘the Target’). |
| --- | --- |

—

certain loans and real property of Banco Popular Español SA (Spain) and of its real estate management company, Aliseda Servicios de Gestión Inmobiliaria, SL (Spain) (both ‘the Target’).

Blackstone acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of the Target.

The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.

| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   for Blackstone: global asset manager,
  —   for the Target: Banco Popular’s Spanish real estate business, which comprises the Spanish portfolio of repossessed properties, non-performing loans relating to the real estate sector and other assets related to these activities (including deferred tax assets) owned by Banco Popular and its affiliates; and of certain assets and operations of Banco Popular’s real estate management company, Aliseda that provide services to the real estate business. |
| --- | --- |

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for Blackstone: global asset manager,

for Blackstone

—   for the Target: Banco Popular’s Spanish real estate business, which comprises the Spanish portfolio of repossessed properties, non-performing loans relating to the real estate sector and other assets related to these activities (including deferred tax assets) owned by Banco Popular and its affiliates; and of certain assets and operations of Banco Popular’s real estate management company, Aliseda that provide services to the real estate business.

for the Target

| 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 the Notice. |
| --- | --- |

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 the Notice.

2

| 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. The following reference should always be specified:
  Case M.8679 — Blackstone/Banco Popular real estate business
  Observations can be sent to the Commission by email, by fax, or by post. Please use the contact details below:





  E-mail: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu |
| --- | --- |
| Fax +32 22964301 |
| Postal 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. The following reference should always be specified:

Case M.8679 — Blackstone/Banco Popular real estate business

Observations can be sent to the Commission by email, by fax, or by post. Please use the contact details below:

E-mail: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu

Fax +32 22964301

Postal 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

(2)  OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.

2

---