# Official Journal C 298/2008

| | ISSN 1725-2423 |
| --- | --- |
| Official Journal
  of the European Union | C 298 |
| | |
| English edition | Information and Notices | Volume 5121 November 2008 |

ISSN 1725-2423

Official Journal

of the European Union

C 298

English edition

Information and Notices

Volume 5121 November 2008

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| Notice No | Contents | page |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | II   Information |
| | INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES |
| | Commission |
| 2008/C 298/01 | Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case COMP/M.5306 — Metso Power/Wärtsilä Finland/JV) (
  1
  ) | 1 |

Notice No

Contents

page

II   Information

INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES

Commission

2008/C 298/01

Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case COMP/M.5306 — Metso Power/Wärtsilä Finland/JV) (
  1
  )

1

1

| | IV   Notices |
| --- | --- |
| | NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES |
| | Commission |
| 2008/C 298/02 | Euro exchange rates | 2 |
| | NOTICES FROM MEMBER STATES |
| 2008/C 298/03 | Information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1628/2006 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to national regional investment aid (
  1
  ) | 3 |

IV   Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES

Commission

2008/C 298/02

Euro exchange rates

2

NOTICES FROM MEMBER STATES

2008/C 298/03

Information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1628/2006 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to national regional investment aid (
  1
  )

1

3

| | V   Announcements |
| --- | --- |
| | PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMON COMMERCIAL POLICY |
| | Commission |
| 2008/C 298/04 | Notice regarding the termination of the process concerning the implementation of the Panel report adopted by the WTO Dispute Settlement Body concerning the anti-dumping measure applicable to imports of farmed salmon originating in Norway | 7 |
| | PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMPETITION POLICY |
| | Commission |
| 2008/C 298/05 | Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.5363 — Santander/Bradford & Bingley Assets) (
  1
  ) | 9 |

V   Announcements

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMON COMMERCIAL POLICY

Commission

2008/C 298/04

Notice regarding the termination of the process concerning the implementation of the Panel report adopted by the WTO Dispute Settlement Body concerning the anti-dumping measure applicable to imports of farmed salmon originating in Norway

7

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMPETITION POLICY

Commission

2008/C 298/05

Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.5363 — Santander/Bradford & Bingley Assets) (
  1
  )

1

9

| | |
| --- | --- |
| 2008/C 298/06 | Note to the reader(see page 3 of the cover) | s3 |

2008/C 298/06

Note to the reader(see page 3 of the cover)

Note to the reader

s3

| | |
| --- | --- |
| | (1)   Text with EEA relevance |

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(1)   Text with EEA relevance

1

| EN | |
| --- | --- |

EN

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II Information

INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES

Commission

| 21.11.2008 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 298/1 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

21.11.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 298/1

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Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.5306 — Metso Power/Wärtsilä Finland/JV)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2008/C 298/01)

On 14 November 2008, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the common market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. The full text of the decision is available only in English and will be made public after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

| — | from the Europa competition website (http://ec.europa.eu/comm/competition/mergers/cases/). This website provides various facilities to help locate individual merger decisions, including company, case number, date and sectoral indexes, |
| --- | --- |

—

from the Europa competition website (http://ec.europa.eu/comm/competition/mergers/cases/). This website provides various facilities to help locate individual merger decisions, including company, case number, date and sectoral indexes,

| — | in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website under document number 32008M5306. EUR-Lex is the on-line access to European law (http://eur-lex.europa.eu). |
| --- | --- |

—

in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website under document number 32008M5306. EUR-Lex is the on-line access to European law (http://eur-lex.europa.eu).

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IV Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES

Commission

| 21.11.2008 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 298/2 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

21.11.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 298/2

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Euro exchange rates (1)

20 November 2008

(2008/C 298/02)

1 euro=

| | Currency | Exchange rate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| USD | US dollar | 1,2542 |
| JPY | Japanese yen | 119,87 |
| DKK | Danish krone | 7,4524 |
| GBP | Pound sterling | 0,8421 |
| SEK | Swedish krona | 10,2395 |
| CHF | Swiss franc | 1,529 |
| ISK | Iceland króna | 245 |
| NOK | Norwegian krone | 8,87 |
| BGN | Bulgarian lev | 1,9558 |
| CZK | Czech koruna | 25,635 |
| EEK | Estonian kroon | 15,6466 |
| HUF | Hungarian forint | 269,94 |
| LTL | Lithuanian litas | 3,4528 |
| LVL | Latvian lats | 0,7093 |
| PLN | Polish zloty | 3,85 |
| RON | Romanian leu | 3,817 |
| SKK | Slovak koruna | 30,38 |
| TRY | Turkish lira | 2,1354 |
| AUD | Australian dollar | 1,9927 |
| CAD | Canadian dollar | 1,5814 |
| HKD | Hong Kong dollar | 9,7202 |
| NZD | New Zealand dollar | 2,3209 |
| SGD | Singapore dollar | 1,9176 |
| KRW | South Korean won | 1 892,24 |
| ZAR | South African rand | 13,2315 |
| CNY | Chinese yuan renminbi | 8,5718 |
| HRK | Croatian kuna | 7,135 |
| IDR | Indonesian rupiah | 15 363,95 |
| MYR | Malaysian ringgit | 4,5446 |
| PHP | Philippine peso | 62,76 |
| RUB | Russian rouble | 34,5555 |
| THB | Thai baht | 44,079 |
| BRL | Brazilian real | 3,0198 |
| MXN | Mexican peso | 16,9003 |

Currency

Exchange rate

USD

US dollar

1,2542

JPY

Japanese yen

119,87

DKK

Danish krone

7,4524

GBP

Pound sterling

0,8421

SEK

Swedish krona

10,2395

CHF

Swiss franc

1,529

ISK

Iceland króna

245

NOK

Norwegian krone

8,87

BGN

Bulgarian lev

1,9558

CZK

Czech koruna

25,635

EEK

Estonian kroon

15,6466

HUF

Hungarian forint

269,94

LTL

Lithuanian litas

3,4528

LVL

Latvian lats

0,7093

PLN

Polish zloty

3,85

RON

Romanian leu

3,817

SKK

Slovak koruna

30,38

TRY

Turkish lira

2,1354

AUD

Australian dollar

1,9927

CAD

Canadian dollar

1,5814

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

9,7202

NZD

New Zealand dollar

2,3209

SGD

Singapore dollar

1,9176

KRW

South Korean won

1 892,24

ZAR

South African rand

13,2315

CNY

Chinese yuan renminbi

8,5718

HRK

Croatian kuna

7,135

IDR

Indonesian rupiah

15 363,95

MYR

Malaysian ringgit

4,5446

PHP

Philippine peso

62,76

RUB

Russian rouble

34,5555

THB

Thai baht

44,079

BRL

Brazilian real

3,0198

MXN

Mexican peso

16,9003

---

(1)

Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.

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NOTICES FROM MEMBER STATES

| 21.11.2008 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 298/3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

21.11.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 298/3

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Information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1628/2006 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to national regional investment aid

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2008/C 298/03)

| Aid No | XR 50/08 |
| --- | --- |
| Member State | Spain |
| Region | 87.3 a) |
| Title of aid scheme or the name of the undertaking receiving ad hoc aid supplement | Infraestructuras Científico Tecnológicas Subprograma de Creación y Consolidación de Centros Tecnológicos «CREA» |
| Legal basis | Orden ITC/2040/2007, de 4 de julio, modificada por la Orden PRE 660/2008, de 7 de marzo (B.O.E no 62 de 12.3.2008). Anexo III |
| Type of measure | Aid scheme |
| Annual budget | EUR 7 million |
| Maximum aid intensity | 40 % |
| In conformity with Article 4 of the Regulation |
| Date of implementation | 1.4.2008 |
| Duration | 31.12.2013 |
| Economic sectors | All sectors eligible for regional investment aid |
| Name and address of the granting authority | Dirección General de Política de la Pequeña y Mediana Empresa
  Ministerio de Industria, Turismo y Comercio |
| Internet address of the publication of the aid scheme | www.ipyme.org |
| Other information | — |

Aid No

XR 50/08

Member State

Spain

Region

87.3 a)

Title of aid scheme or the name of the undertaking receiving ad hoc aid supplement

Infraestructuras Científico Tecnológicas Subprograma de Creación y Consolidación de Centros Tecnológicos «CREA»

Legal basis

Orden ITC/2040/2007, de 4 de julio, modificada por la Orden PRE 660/2008, de 7 de marzo (B.O.E no 62 de 12.3.2008). Anexo III

Type of measure

Aid scheme

Annual budget

EUR 7 million

Maximum aid intensity

40 %

In conformity with Article 4 of the Regulation

Date of implementation

1.4.2008

Duration

31.12.2013

Economic sectors

All sectors eligible for regional investment aid

Name and address of the granting authority

Dirección General de Política de la Pequeña y Mediana Empresa

Ministerio de Industria, Turismo y Comercio

Internet address of the publication of the aid scheme

www.ipyme.org

Other information

—

| Aid No | XR 82/08 |
| --- | --- |
| Member State | Spain |
| Region | Cantabria |
| Title of aid scheme or the name of the undertaking receiving ad hoc aid supplement | Subvenciones a la inversión industrial 2008 |
| Legal basis | Orden IND/6/2008 de la Consejería de Industria y Desarrollo Tecnológico (Boletín Oficial de Cantabria no 73, de 15 de abril de 2008) |
| Type of measure | Aid scheme |
| Annual budget | EUR 7 million |
| Maximum aid intensity | 15 % |
| In conformity with Article 4 of the Regulation |
| Date of implementation | 15.5.2008 |
| Duration | 31.12.2008 |
| Economic sectors | All sectors eligible for regional investment aid |
| Name and address of the granting authority | Consejería de Industria y Desarrollo Tecnológico
  dgindustria@gobcantabria.es |
| Internet address of the publication of the aid scheme | http://boc.gobcantabria.es/boc/datos/MES%202008-04/OR%202008-04-15 %20073/HTML/2008-4750.asp?volver=1 |
| Other information | — |

Aid No

XR 82/08

Member State

Spain

Region

Cantabria

Title of aid scheme or the name of the undertaking receiving ad hoc aid supplement

Subvenciones a la inversión industrial 2008

Legal basis

Orden IND/6/2008 de la Consejería de Industria y Desarrollo Tecnológico (Boletín Oficial de Cantabria no 73, de 15 de abril de 2008)

Type of measure

Aid scheme

Annual budget

EUR 7 million

Maximum aid intensity

15 %

In conformity with Article 4 of the Regulation

Date of implementation

15.5.2008

Duration

31.12.2008

Economic sectors

All sectors eligible for regional investment aid

Name and address of the granting authority

Consejería de Industria y Desarrollo Tecnológico

dgindustria@gobcantabria.es

Internet address of the publication of the aid scheme

http://boc.gobcantabria.es/boc/datos/MES%202008-04/OR%202008-04-15 %20073/HTML/2008-4750.asp?volver=1

Other information

—

| Aid No | XR 88/08 |
| --- | --- |
| Member State | Czech Republic |
| Region | 87(3)(a) |
| Title of aid scheme or the name of the undertaking receiving ad hoc aid supplement | Operační program Podnikání a inovace 2007–2013
  Podprogram Prosperita – režim zakládající veřejnou podporu, výzva I |
| Legal basis | Zákon č. 47/2002 Sb., o podpoře malého a středního podnikání
  Zákon č. 218/2000 Sb., o rozpočtových pravidlech a o změně některých souvisejících zákonů |
| Type of measure | Aid scheme |
| Annual budget | CZK 900 million |
| Maximum aid intensity | 40 % |
| In conformity with Article 4 of the Regulation |
| Date of implementation | 7.4.2008 |
| Duration | 31.12.2010 |
| Economic sectors | All sectors eligible for regional investment aid |
| Name and address of the granting authority | Ministerstvo průmyslu a obchodu České republiky |
| Na Františku 32 |
| CZ-110 15 Praha 1 |

Aid No

XR 88/08

Member State

Czech Republic

Region

87(3)(a)

Title of aid scheme or the name of the undertaking receiving ad hoc aid supplement

Operační program Podnikání a inovace 2007–2013

Podprogram Prosperita – režim zakládající veřejnou podporu, výzva I

Legal basis

Zákon č. 47/2002 Sb., o podpoře malého a středního podnikání

Zákon č. 218/2000 Sb., o rozpočtových pravidlech a o změně některých souvisejících zákonů

Type of measure

Aid scheme

Annual budget

CZK 900 million

Maximum aid intensity

40 %

In conformity with Article 4 of the Regulation

Date of implementation

7.4.2008

Duration

31.12.2010

Economic sectors

All sectors eligible for regional investment aid

Name and address of the granting authority

Ministerstvo průmyslu a obchodu České republiky

Na Františku 32

CZ-110 15 Praha 1

Internet address of the publication of the aid scheme

www.mpo.cz

Other information

—

| Aid No | XR 91/08 |
| --- | --- |
| Member State | Germany |
| Region | Sachsen |
| Title of aid scheme or the name of the undertaking receiving ad hoc aid supplement | Erste Richtlinie des Sächsischen Staatsministeriums für Wirtschaft und Arbeit zur Änderung der Richtlinie des Sächsischen Staatsministeriums für Wirtschaft und Arbeit zur „Förderung von Investitionen kleiner Unternehmen in strukturschwachen Räumen“ vom 5. April 2007 |
| Legal basis | Erste Richtlinie des Sächsischen Staatsministeriums für Wirtschaft und Arbeit zur Änderung der Richtlinie des Sächsischen Staatsministeriums für Wirtschaft und Arbeit zur „Förderung von Investitionen kleiner Unternehmen in strukturschwachen Räumen“ vom 5. April 2007 |
| Type of measure | Aid scheme |
| Annual budget | EUR 5,4 million |
| Maximum aid intensity | 30 % |
| In conformity with Article 4 of the Regulation |
| Date of implementation | 3.6.2008 |
| Duration | 31.12.2013 |
| Economic sectors | — |
| NACE 01/11/15/16/17/18/19/20/21/22/23/24/25/26/27/28/29/30/31/32/33/34/35/36/37/45/50/52/55/63/64/66/67/70/71/72/73/85/90/91/92/93/99 |
| Name and address of the granting authority | SAB Sächsische Aufbaubank — Förderbank
  Tel. (49-351) 491 012 33 |
| Internet address of the publication of the aid scheme | http://www.smwa.sachsen.de/set/431/%C3 %84nderungsrichtlinie%2055.pdf |
| Other information | — |

Aid No

XR 91/08

Member State

Germany

Region

Sachsen

Title of aid scheme or the name of the undertaking receiving ad hoc aid supplement

Erste Richtlinie des Sächsischen Staatsministeriums für Wirtschaft und Arbeit zur Änderung der Richtlinie des Sächsischen Staatsministeriums für Wirtschaft und Arbeit zur „Förderung von Investitionen kleiner Unternehmen in strukturschwachen Räumen“ vom 5. April 2007

Legal basis

Erste Richtlinie des Sächsischen Staatsministeriums für Wirtschaft und Arbeit zur Änderung der Richtlinie des Sächsischen Staatsministeriums für Wirtschaft und Arbeit zur „Förderung von Investitionen kleiner Unternehmen in strukturschwachen Räumen“ vom 5. April 2007

Type of measure

Aid scheme

Annual budget

EUR 5,4 million

Maximum aid intensity

30 %

In conformity with Article 4 of the Regulation

Date of implementation

3.6.2008

Duration

31.12.2013

Economic sectors

—

NACE 01/11/15/16/17/18/19/20/21/22/23/24/25/26/27/28/29/30/31/32/33/34/35/36/37/45/50/52/55/63/64/66/67/70/71/72/73/85/90/91/92/93/99

Name and address of the granting authority

SAB Sächsische Aufbaubank — Förderbank

Tel. (49-351) 491 012 33

Internet address of the publication of the aid scheme

http://www.smwa.sachsen.de/set/431/%C3 %84nderungsrichtlinie%2055.pdf

Other information

—

| Aid No | XR 107/08 |
| --- | --- |
| Member State | Romania |
| Region | — |
| Title of aid scheme or the name of the undertaking receiving ad hoc aid supplement | Schemă de ajutor de stat orizontal pentru dezvoltarea regională durabilă și reducerea emisiilor |
| Legal basis | Hotărârea Guvernului nr. 718/2008 privind aprobarea schemei de ajutor de stat orizontal pentru dezvoltarea regională durabilă și reducerea emisiilor (Monitorul Oficial al României nr. 0529/2008) |
| Type of measure | Aid scheme |
| Overall budget | EUR 318,8 million |
| Maximum aid intensity | 50 % |
| In conformity with Article 4 of the Regulation |
| Date of implementation | 11.8.2008 |
| Duration | 31.12.2013 |
| Economic sectors | Limited to specific sectors |
| NACE B, C, D 351 |
| Name and address of the granting authority | Ministerul Economiei și Finanţelor |
| Strada Apolodor nr. 17, sector 5 |
| RO-050741, București |
| Tel. (40-21) 319 97 59 |
| Fax (40-21) 312 25 09 |

Aid No

XR 107/08

Member State

Romania

Region

—

Title of aid scheme or the name of the undertaking receiving ad hoc aid supplement

Schemă de ajutor de stat orizontal pentru dezvoltarea regională durabilă și reducerea emisiilor

Legal basis

Hotărârea Guvernului nr. 718/2008 privind aprobarea schemei de ajutor de stat orizontal pentru dezvoltarea regională durabilă și reducerea emisiilor (Monitorul Oficial al României nr. 0529/2008)

Type of measure

Aid scheme

Overall budget

EUR 318,8 million

Maximum aid intensity

50 %

In conformity with Article 4 of the Regulation

Date of implementation

11.8.2008

Duration

31.12.2013

Economic sectors

Limited to specific sectors

NACE B, C, D 351

Name and address of the granting authority

Ministerul Economiei și Finanţelor

Strada Apolodor nr. 17, sector 5

RO-050741, București

Tel. (40-21) 319 97 59

Fax (40-21) 312 25 09

Internet address of the publication of the aid scheme

http://oie.minind.ro/oie/html/documentex/HG%20718-2008.pdf

Other information

—

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V Announcements

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMON COMMERCIAL POLICY

Commission

| 21.11.2008 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 298/7 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

21.11.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 298/7

---

Notice regarding the termination of the process concerning the implementation of the Panel report adopted by the WTO Dispute Settlement Body concerning the anti-dumping measure applicable to imports of farmed salmon originating in Norway

(2008/C 298/04)

1.   Background

In January 2006, the Council, by Regulation (EC) No 85/2006 (1), imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty and collected definitively the provisional duty imposed on imports of farmed salmon originating in Norway (‘the original measure’). Subsequently, Norway lodged a World Trade Organisation (‘WTO’) dispute settlement proceeding challenging certain aspects of this Regulation (‘the measure’) and the report of the WTO Panel, which had been established by the WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), was circulated to WTO members on 16 November 2007. At its meeting on 15 January 2008, the DSB adopted the Panel report (‘the report’). An implementation process was initiated in order to bring the original measure into conformity with the recommendations and rulings contained in the report (‘the implementation’).

2.   Termination of the implementation

In May 2008, the Commission published a notice (‘the notice’) in the Official Journal (2) providing all the details concerning the implementation of the report recommendations and rulings. Questionnaires were sent to all relevant parties and to parties which made themselves known within the time limits provided under point 5(b) of the notice (‘interested parties’).

However, in April 2007 (3), certain Member States of the European Union (the applicants) provided prima facie evidence that the basis on which the measures were established had changed. The applicants alleged and provided prima facie evidence showing that dumping from Norwegian exporters was reduced significantly and that therefore, the continued imposition of measures would not be justified. The Commission thus initiated a partial interim review (the review) pursuant to Article 11(3) of the basic Regulation (4).

The review showed that Norwegian exporters were not dumping their products on the Community market. Accordingly, in July 2008, by Council Regulation (EC) No 685/2008 (5), the Council repealed the original measures in force on farmed salmon originating in Norway.

As a consequence, the implementation proceeding referred to in the notice is terminated.

All interested parties were given an opportunity to comment on the termination and or to address any claim concerning their rights of defence to the Hearing Officer (6). No party made comments or referred to the Hearing Officer.

---

(1)  OJ L 15, 20.1.2006, p. 1.

(2)  OJ C 127, 24.5.2008, p. 32.

(3)  OJ C 88, 21.4.2007.

(4)  Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96 of 22 December 1995 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community.

(5)  OJ L 192, 19.7.2008, p. 5.

(6)  If interested parties consider that they are encountering difficulties in the exercise of their rights of defence, they may request the intervention of the Hearing Officer of DG Trade. He acts as an interface between the interested parties and the Commission services, offering, where necessary, mediation on procedural matters affecting the protection of their interests in this proceeding, in particular, with regard to issues concerning access to the file, confidentiality, extension of time limits and the treatment of written and/or oral submission of views. For further information and contact details, interested parties may consult the Hearing Officer's web pages on the website of DG Trade (http://ec.europa.eu/trade).

---

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMPETITION POLICY

Commission

| 21.11.2008 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 298/9 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

21.11.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 298/9

---

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.5363 — Santander/Bradford & Bingley Assets)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2008/C 298/05)

| 1. | On 12 November 2008, 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 Abbey National plc (‘Abbey’, United Kingdom), controlled by the undertaking Banco Santander SA (‘Santander’, Spain), acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of part of Bradford & Bingley plc (‘Bradford & Bingley Assets’, United Kingdom) by way of purchase of assets. |
| --- | --- |

1.

On 12 November 2008, 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 Abbey National plc (‘Abbey’, United Kingdom), controlled by the undertaking Banco Santander SA (‘Santander’, Spain), acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of part of Bradford & Bingley plc (‘Bradford & Bingley Assets’, United Kingdom) by way of purchase of assets.

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






  — | for Abbey: personal financial services including current and savings accounts, loans, credit cards, mortgages, investments and pensions. Abbey is also active in corporate banking services, financial market services and distributes third-party insurance products, |
| --- | --- | --- |

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

for Abbey: personal financial services including current and savings accounts, loans, credit cards, mortgages, investments and pensions. Abbey is also active in corporate banking services, financial market services and distributes third-party insurance products,

| — | for Santander: parent company of an international group of banking and financial companies operating in the UK, Spain and some other European countries, as well as in Latin America, |
| --- | --- |

—

for Santander: parent company of an international group of banking and financial companies operating in the UK, Spain and some other European countries, as well as in Latin America,

| — | for Bradford & Bingley Assets: retail banking (savings and mortgage lending). |
| --- | --- |

—

for Bradford & Bingley Assets: retail banking (savings and mortgage lending).

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. 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 Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. 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 ((32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.5363 — Santander/Bradford & Bingley Assets, to the following address:





  European Commission |
| --- | --- |
| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| J-70 |
| B-1049 Brussels |

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 ((32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.5363 — Santander/Bradford & Bingley Assets, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Brussels

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(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

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21.11.2008

| 21.11.2008 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 298/s3 |
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EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 298/s3

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