17.8.2006   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 193/32

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4317 — Aviva/De Agostini/Sopaf/Bipielle Net)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2006/C 193/06)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1.

On 8 August 2006, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertakings Aviva Italia Holding S.p.A. (‘Aviva’, Italy), belonging to the Aviva group (‘Aviva group’, UK), De Agostini Invest S.A. (‘DeA’, Luxembourg), belonging to the DeAgostini Group (‘De Agostini group’, Italy) and SOPAF — Società Partecipazioni Finanziarie S.p.A. (‘Sopaf’, Italy) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking Banca Bipielle Network S.p.A. (‘Bipielle Net’, Italy) by purchase of shares.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

for Aviva: holding of participations in different companies active in the insurance sector on behalf of the Aviva group in Italy;

—

for DeA: investment fund manager of De Agostini group. This group is active in the media, publishing, financial and insurance sectors;

—

for SOPAF: alternative asset management; investments and retail credit;

—

for Bipielle Net: banking services.

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 (fax No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.4317 — Aviva/De Agostini/Sopaf/Bipielle Net, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Brussels

(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

(2)  OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32.