# C_2010188EN.01001201.xml

| 13.7.2010 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 188/12 |
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13.7.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 188/12

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.5861 — Republic of Austria/Hypo Group Alpe Adria)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

2010/C 188/08

| 1. | On 5 July 2010 the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1). Under § 1 of the Austrian Act on measures to ensure the stability of the financial market, the Austrian Federal Minister for Finance acquired for the Republic of Austria, within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation, control of the whole of Hypo Alpe Adria Bank International AG (‘HGAA’, Austria) by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 5 July 2010 the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1). Under § 1 of the Austrian Act on measures to ensure the stability of the financial market, the Austrian Federal Minister for Finance acquired for the Republic of Austria, within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation, control of the whole of Hypo Alpe Adria Bank International AG (‘HGAA’, Austria) by way of purchase of shares.

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






  — | Federal Ministry of Finance: Stabilization of the financial system in Austria, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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Federal Ministry of Finance: Stabilization of the financial system in Austria,

| — | HGAA: Universal retail and corporate banking services, leasing services. |
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HGAA: Universal retail and corporate banking services, leasing services.

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the EC 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 EC Merger Regulation (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice. |
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3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the EC 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 EC Merger Regulation (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the 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 COMP/M.5861 — Republic of Austria/Hypo Group Alpe Adria, to the following address:





  European Commission |
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| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| J-70 |
| 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 COMP/M.5861 — Republic of Austria/Hypo Group Alpe Adria, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

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(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘EC Merger Regulation’).

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(2)  OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32 (‘Notice on a simplified procedure’).

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