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Tuesday, 13 July 2021

Decision 739/2021

Decision following prior notification of a concentration, according to articles 5-10 of L.3959/2011, regarding the acquisition of sole control, pursuant to article 5 par. 2b of L.3959/2011, over Piraeus Bank merchant acquiring activities by the company under the name “EFT SERVICES HOLDING B.V.”

Decision 739/2021
File (PDF) Decision 739/2021
Date of Issuance of Decision

July 13th, 2021

Government Gazette Issue No Pending
Relevant Market
  1. Provision of merchant acquiring services
  2. POS Provision and Management
  3. Management of the Card Acquiring Processing markets
Subject of the Decision

Merger

Legal Framework

Phase I (Article 8 par. 3 of L. 3959/2011)

Operative part of the Decision

Clearance

Acquiring company(ies)

EFT SERVICES HOLDING B.V.

Target company(ies)

Euronet Merchant Services, Payment Institution Public Limited company (to which the provision of merchant acquiring servicesbranch of Piraeus Bank was transferred by secession/demerger)

Summary of Decision

On 13/7/2021 the Hellenic Competition Commission (HCC) unanimously approved with its decision No. 739/2021, pursuant to article 8 par.3 of L.3949/2011, the notified concentration dated from 15.4.2021, regarding the acquisition of sole control over the merchant acquiring services branch of Piraeus Bank by the company under the name “EFT SERVICES HOLDING B.V” (part of Euronet Worldwide, Inc group).

Pursuant to the above decision, the HCC found that the proposed concentration, which concerns the Merchant Acquiring Services, the POS Provision and Management and the Card Acquiring Processing markets, despite the fact that it falls within the scope of article 6 par. 1 of L. 3959/2011, it does not raise any serious doubts as to its compatibility with the competition rules in the relevant markets concerned.

Judicial Means

Final. No appeal.

Decisions by the Court of Appeal of Athens (Administrative Division)

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