16.12.2005   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 321/21

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4047 — Aviva/Ark Life)

(2005/C 321/13)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1.

On 8 December 2005, 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 Hibernian Life Holdings belonging to Aviva plc (‘Aviva’, UK) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of Ark Life Assurance Company Limited (‘Ark Life’, Ireland) by way of purchase of shares.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

Aviva: provision of life insurance products including protection, pensions and savings and investment products and the provision of investment management services;

—

Ark Life: provision of life insurance products including protection, pensions and savings and investment products.

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.

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 (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.4047 — Aviva/Ark Life, to the following address:

European Commission

Competition DG

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Brussels

(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.