5.2.2008   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 31/17


Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.5030 — Swiss Life/AWD)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2008/C 31/13)

1.

On 24 January 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 Swiss Life Holding AG (‘Swiss Life’, Switzerland) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking AWD Holding AG (‘AWD’, Germany) by way of public bid announced on 3 December 2007.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

for Swiss Life: life insurance,

for AWD: distribution of financial products including life insurance.

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.

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.5030 — Swiss Life/AWD, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel


(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

(2)  OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32.