COMMISSION DECISION of 18/12/2000 declaring a concentration to be compatible with the common market (Case No IV/M.2233 - AGF/ZWOLSCHE ALGEMEENE) according to Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 (Only the English text is authentic)

Brussels, 18.12.2000

To the notifying parties

Dear Madam/Sir,

Subject: Case No. COMP/M.2233-AGF/ZWOLSCHE ALGEMEENE

Notification of 16.11.2000 pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 4064/89 [1]

[1] OJ L 395, 30.12.1989 p. 1; corrected version OJ L 257 of 21.9.1990, p. 13, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1310/97, OJ L 180, 9.7.1997, p. 1, corrigendum in OJ L 40, 13.2.1998, p. 17.

Publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities No. C 264 of 14.09.2000, page 5.

1. On 16.11.2000, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 4064/89 by which undertaking AGF International ("AGF", France), belonging to the Allianz-group (Germany) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Zwolsche Algemeene N.V. ("ZA", Netherlands), by way of purchase of shares.

2. The business activities of the undertakings concerned are for AGF: insurance and banking and for ZA : insurance and banking.

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 c, of the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 [2].

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

4. To the extent that restrictions specified by the parties are directly related and necessary to the implementation of the concentration, these restrictions are covered pursuant to Article 6(1)(b), second subparagraph, of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 4064/89.

5. 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