32003M3305

Commission Decision of 26/11/2003 declaring a concentration to be compatible with the common market (Case No IV/M.3305 - ABN AMRO / GLOBAL GARDEN PRODUCTS) according to Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 (Only the English text is authentic)

To the notifying party

Dear Madam(s) and/or Sir(s),

Subject: Case No. COMP/M.3305 - ABN AMRO / Global Garden Products Notification of 28.10.2003 pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 4064/89 [1], as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1310/97 [2] Publication in the Official Journal of the European Union No. C 266, 5.11.2003, page 13.

[1] OJ L 395, 30.12.1989 p. 1; corrigendum: OJ L 257, 21.9.1990, p. 13.

[2] OJ L 180, 9. 7. 1997, p. 1; corrigendum OJ L 40, 13.2.1998, p. 17.

1. On 28 October 2003, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 4064/89 by which ABN AMRO Capital Limited ("ABN AMRO", United Kingdom), belonging to the ABN AMRO group, acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the Global Garden Products Sweden Förvaltning AB ("GGP Group", Sweden) by way of purchase of shares.

2. The business activities of the undertakings concerned are :

- for ABN AMRO : provision of financial services;

- for GGP Group : production of garden tools and equipment.

3. After examination of the notification, the Commission has concluded that the notified operation falls within the scope of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 4064/89 and of paragraph 4, subparagraph b, of the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 [3].

[3] OJ C 217, 29.07.2000, p. 32.

4. For the reasons set out in the Notice on a simplified procedure, the Commission has decided not to oppose the notified operation and to declare it compatible with the common market and with the EEA Agreement. This decision is adopted in application of Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 4064/89.

For the Commission

Mario MONTI Member of the Commission