06/11/2013 (Agence Europe) - Mergers: RZB/RBSPK/RWBB. On Tuesday 5 November, the European Commission gave the go-ahead to the acquisition of home savings and loan association Raiffeisen Bausparkasse GmbH (“RBSPK”), of Austria, and Raiffeisen Wohnbaubank AG (“RWBB”), of Austria, a financial entity specialised in the issuing of mortgage bonds in relation to residential home projects, by Raiffeisen Zentralbank Österreich AG (“RZB”), of Austria. The parties' activities overlap in the market of loans granted to individuals for housing purposes and real estate leasing. The Commission found that the overlap in real estate leasing was very limited, meaning that the transaction would not have an appreciable effect on competition in this market. As regards loans granted to individuals for housing purposes, the Commission's investigation found that the combination of the parties' offerings did not raise any competition concern and that a number of strong competitors would remain in the market after the merger. (OL/transl.fl)