IP-12-938_ES

Mergers: Commission approves creation of a joint
venture in the field of trade by mobile phone operators
of British Mobile Telephone, VOD
The European Commission has approved without conditions, under the EU Merger
Regulation the proposed creation of a joint venture between Telefonica and Vodafone,
everything Everywhere in the Trade sector through the Elephone M3 mobile phone in the
UK.
'The Trade through the Elephone Trunk mobile phone is an emerging sector that could
Radically change the way consumers buy up to a few years. The proposed joint venture is
One of the initiatives to develop the sector in Europe. The Commission is keen to promote
innovation in this area and ensure that Markets remain open, so that Various competing
solutions can arise without unnecessary Barriers for the benefit of Consumer, Said Joaquin
Almunia, Vice President of the Commission responsible for Competition Policy
The preliminary analysis of the Commission had indicated potential Competition problems
in the Emerging Markets of Supply payment applications for Elephone M1 mobile Phone
(called You 'Wallets), Mobile Advertising and Mobile Services related Data Analysis. On this
basis, the Commission initiated an in-depth investigation on April 13, 2012 (IP / 12 / 367).
As a result of its indepth investigation, the Commission concluded that the joint venture is
not likely to significantly impede effective competition in the EEA under The merger
regulation.
The operation was notified to the Commission on 6 March 2012.
Background
The Market Investigation showed that there are already a number of alternatives, and it is
likely that many more will emerge in the near future to ensure adequate competitive
pressure in the The Company's Mobile Wallet Platform in Participation. Some of these
Alternatives can be based on a safe access to the SIM card of the Elephone M3 mobile
phones to store sensitive data For example, Bank Account numbers or other. This access
will be controlled by the Mobile Network Operators, including in particular the three parent
companies of the joint venture. However, there are other alternatives that do not store
sensitive information in sim cards, and it is not likely that the creation of the joint venture
will enable operators to matrices of mobile networks Blocking these alternative Routes to
market using technical means or commercial.
As regards Advertising activities and Data Analysis, the Market Investigation showed that
there will be other operators will have access to a set of data comparabl And that will offer
services and competing with the joint venture.

Telefonica UK, Vodafone UK and Everything Everywhere - a joint venture created by the
merger of t-mobile UK and Orange UK, authorised by the Commission in March 2010 - are
three of the four Mobile Network Operators in the UK.
The newly established Joint Venture will offer various services trade by Elephone Trunk
mobile phone companies, including Payment Transaction Services for Mobile Phone
Services Marketing for Elephone M1 mobile Phone Services and associated data analysis.
Rules and procedures for the control of concentrations
The Commission has the obligation to assess Mergers and acquisitions involving
companies with a turnover exceeding certain thresholds (see article 1 of the facts Or
concentrations) and avoid concentration which would significantly impede effective
competition in the EEA or in a substantial part of it.
The great majority of the merger does not raise Competition problems and are approved
after a routine examination. From the moment when notice of the transaction, the
Commission has in general 25 working days to decide whether to approve the (Phase I) or
opens a detailed Investigation (Phase II).
Currently, there are five other research in phase II. The First relates to the planned
acquisition of EMI's Recorded Music Business by universal (see IP / 12 / 311), whose term
ends on 27 September 2012. The Second investigation in phase II is related to the
proposed acquisition of Inoxum, The Stainless Steel Division of ThyssenKrupp of Germany,
by the company and Sa Outokumpu Stainless Steel (see IP / 12 / 495), whose term ends
on 24 October 2012. The Third investigation in ongoing Phase II opened in June 2012 by
the proposed acquisition of Orange Austria by Hutchinson (see IP / 12 / 726). The
deadline for this investigation ends November 30, 2012. Finally, the Fourth Research
refers to the planned Acquisition TNT Express UPS (see IP / 12 / 816), whose term ends
on 20 December 2012. Finally, the fifth Phase II Research refers to the proposed takeover
of Aer Lingus, aerolíne With headquarters in Ireland, by Ryanair (see IP / 12 / 921), with a
deadline of 16 January 2013.
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