Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9787 — Česká Spořitelna/Československá Obchodní Banka/Komerční Banka/JV) Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance) 2020/C 238/05
Date: 2020-07-20
Institutions: Directorate-General for Competition, European Commission
Subjects: bank, economic concentration, electronic government, merger control








C_2020238EN.01001401.xml










20.7.2020   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 238/14






Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.9787 — Česká Spořitelna/Československá Obchodní Banka/Komerční Banka/JV)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2020/C 238/05)

1.   
On 10 July 2020, 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:






—


Česká spořitelna, a.s. (CS, Czechia), belonging to Erste Group Bank AG (Austria),










—


Československá obchodní banka, a.s. (ČSOB, Czechia), belonging to KBC Group (Belgium),










—


Komerční banka, a.s. (KB, Czechia), belonging to Société Générale Group (France).




CS, ČSOB an KB acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of a newly created company constituting a joint venture (the ‘JV’, Czechia).
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture.


2.   
The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:






—


CS: is a banking company operating in Czechia, which provides banking and financial services to individuals, small and medium enterprises, municipalities and other public sector entities and also to multinational corporations and financial institutions,










—


ČSOB: is a banking company operating in Czechia. ČSOB offers banking products and services to all groups of clients, i.e., individuals, SMEs and to corporate and institutional clients,










—


KB: is a banking company operating in Czechia and in the EEA, which provides a wide range of services in retail, corporate and investment banking,










—


The JV will provide e-identification services in Czechia.






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.


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:
M.9787 — Česká Spořitelna/Československá Obchodní Banka/Komerční Banka/JV
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’).

(2)  OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.