# C_2009132EN.01001701.xml

| 11.6.2009 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 132/17 |
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11.6.2009

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 132/17

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.5548 — Barclays/RBS/Hillary)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

2009/C 132/10

| 1. | On 4 June 2009 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 Barclays Bank PLC (‘Barclays’, United Kingdom) and the undertaking The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (‘RBS’, United Kingdom) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking Hillary S.à.r.l. (‘Hillary’, Luxembourg), which is the indirect owner of USP Hospitales S.L.U. (‘USP’, Spain), by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 4 June 2009 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 Barclays Bank PLC (‘Barclays’, United Kingdom) and the undertaking The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (‘RBS’, United Kingdom) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking Hillary S.à.r.l. (‘Hillary’, Luxembourg), which is the indirect owner of USP Hospitales S.L.U. (‘USP’, Spain), by way of purchase of shares.

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






  — | for Barclays: provision of global financial services, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for Barclays: provision of global financial services,

| — | for RBS: provision of banking and other financial services, |
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for RBS: provision of banking and other financial services,

| — | for Hillary: provision of medical assistance services, |
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for Hillary: provision of medical assistance services,

| — | for USP: provision of medical assistance services. |
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for USP: provision of medical assistance services.

| 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. 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 the Notice. |
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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. 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 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 2 2964301 or 2967244) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.5548 — Barclays/RBS/Hillary, 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 2 2964301 or 2967244) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.5548 — Barclays/RBS/Hillary, 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.

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(2)  OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32.

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