1.6.2007   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 121/5

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4694 — RCI Banque/RFS)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2007/C 121/05)

1.

On 24 May 2007, 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 RCI Banque (‘RCI ’France) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking RFS Limited (‘RFS ’United Kingdom) by way of purchase of shares. RCI currently holds joint control over RFS.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

for RCI: automobile financing and services for end customers and dealers of Renault, Nissan and Dacia vehicles in several Member States, including in the UK;

—

for RFS: automobile financing and services for the end customers and dealer of Renault vehicles in the UK only.

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.4694 — RCI Banque/RFS, 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.