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Case No COMP/M.2144 - TELEFONICA / SONERA / GERMAN UMTS JV

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REGULATION (EEC) No 4064/89 MERGER PROCEDURE

Article 6(1)(b) NON-OPPOSITION Date: 17/11/2000

Also available in the CELEX database Document No 300M2144

Office for Official Publications of the European Communities L-2985 Luxembourg

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 17.11.2000

MERGER PROCEDURE ARTICLE 6(1)(b) DECISION

SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE

PUBLIC VERSION

Dear Madam / Sir(s),

Subject: Case No. COMP/M. 2144 – Telefónica /Sonera /German UMTS JV Notification of 18 October 2000 pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 14064/89 Publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities No. C 305, 25 October 2000, page 8.

1.1. On 18 October 2000 the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration

pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/892 by which the undertakings Telefónica Intercontinental S.A., controlled by the Spanish Telefónica S.A. (“Telefónica“), and Sonera 3G Holding BV, controlled by the Finnish Sonera Corporation (“Sonera“), acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the German full-funtion joint venture Marabu Vermögensverwaltung GmbH (“Marabu“) by way of purchase of securities.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are :

-- for Telefónica: fixed line and wireless voice and data communications, value-added and Internet access services, media and entertainment services

11 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.

2 OJ L 395, 30.12.1989 p. 1; corrigendum OJ L 257 of 21.9.1990, p. 13; Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1310/97 (OJ L 180, 9. 7. 1997, p. 1, corrigendum OJ L 40, 13.2.1998, p. 17).

Rue de la Loi 200, B-1049 Bruxelles/Wetstraat 200, B-1049 Brussel - Belgium Telephone: exchange 299.11.11 Telex: COMEU B 21877. Telegraphic address: COMEUR Brussels.

-- for Sonera: fixed line and wireless voice and data communication services, Internet and other service provisions

-- for Marabu: 3rd generation mobile telephony services in Germany.

2.2. 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. 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.

4.4. 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,

3 OJ C 217, 29.07.2000, p. 32.

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