CELEX: 32021M10286
Language: en
Date: 2021-07-27 00:00:00
Title: Commission Decision of 27/07/2021 declaring a concentration to be compatible with the common market (Case No COMP/M.10286 - BNPPF / BPOST BANK) according to Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (Only the English text is authentic)

EUROPEAN COMMISSION
                                                                 Brussels, 27.07.2021
                                                                 C(2021) 5743 final
                                                                                 PUBLIC VERSION
                                                                 BNP Paribas Fortis S.A./N.V.
                                                                 Montagne du Parc 3
                                                                 1000 Brussels
                                                                 Belgium
Subject:        Case M.10286 – BNPPF / BPOST BANK
                Commission decision pursuant to Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation
                (EC) No 139/20041 and Article 57 of the Agreement on the European
                Economic Area2
Dear Sir or Madam,
1.      On 29 June 2021, the European Commission received notification of a proposed
        concentration pursuant to Article 4 of the Merger Regulation by which BNP Paribas
        Fortis S.A./N.V. (“BNPPF”, Belgium) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b)
        of the Merger Regulation sole control of the whole of bpost bank N.V. / bpost banque
        S.A. (“bpost bank”, Belgium), which, prior to the proposed concentration, is jointly
        controlled by BNPPF and bpost S.A. (“bpost”, Belgium). The concentration is
        accomplished by way of purchase of shares.3
2.      Both undertakings provide banking services to a wide range of customers (including
        individuals and corporate customers). The undertakings also distribute life insurance
        products to their customers.
3.      After examination of the notification, the European Commission has concluded that
        the notified operation falls within the scope of the Merger Regulation and of
        paragraph 5(d) of the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of
        certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004.4
1       OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘Merger Regulation’). With effect from 1 December 2009, the Treaty on
        the Functioning of the European Union (‘TFEU’) has introduced certain changes, such as the
        replacement of ‘Community’ by ‘Union’ and ‘common market’ by ‘internal market’. The terminology
        of the TFEU will be used throughout this decision.
2       OJ L 1, 3.1.1994, p. 3 (the ‘EEA Agreement’).
3       Publication in the Official Journal of the European Union No C 269, 07.07.2021, p. 9.
4       OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.
Commission européenne, DG COMP MERGER REGISTRY, 1049 Bruxelles, BELGIQUE
Europese Commissie, DG COMP MERGER REGISTRY, 1049 Brussel, BELGIË
Tel: +32 229-91111. Fax: +32 229-64301. E-mail: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu.
 ---pagebreak--- 4. For the reasons set out in the Notice on a simplified procedure, the European
   Commission has decided not to oppose the notified operation and to declare it
   compatible with the internal market and with the EEA Agreement. This decision is
   adopted in application of Article 6(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation and Article 57 of
   the EEA Agreement.
                                                  For the Commission
                                                  (Signed)
                                                  Olivier GUERSENT
                                                  Director-General
                                             2