Disclaimer :

The Competition DG makes the information provided by the notifying parties in section 1.2 of Form CO available to the public in order to increase transparency. This information has been prepared by the notifying parties under their sole responsibility, and its content in no way prejudges the view the Commission may take of the planned operation. Nor can the Commission be held responsible for any incorrect or misleading information contained therein.

SECTION 1.2

Description of the concentration

(1)(1) On 10/03/2016, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 by which the undertakings Česká spořitelna, a.s. ("CSAS", the Czech Republic); Slovenská sporiteľňa, a.s. ("SLSP", Slovakia) and Banca Comercială Română S.A. ("BCR", Romania), collectively being referred to as "the Banks", belonging to the Erste Group Bank AG ("EGB", Austria) on one hand, and Global Payments Inc. ("GP", USA) on the other, acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of Global Payments s.r.o. ("the JV",) by way of transfer of assets and purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture.

(2)(2) The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

-- EGB: provision of banking, financial services and payment services, including merchant acquiring services in Central and Eastern Europe;

-- the Banks: EGB's subsidiaries in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania;

-- GP: provision of card payment processing services, including merchant acquiring services in the EEA, and also globally;

-- JV: provision of merchant acquiring services in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania.

Commission européenne, DG COMP MERGER REGISTRY, 1049 Bruxelles, BELGIQUE Europese Commissie, DG COMP MERGER REGISTRY, 1049 Brussel, BELGIË

Tel: +32 229-91111. Fax: +32 229-64301. E-mail: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu.