Brussels, 13/11/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, the European Commission cleared acquisition of the German group AKB Holding GmbH (AKB) by the Spanish bank Banco Santander Central Hispano. The Commission decided that the concentration would not create a dominant market position. Both groups provide banking services but AKB focuses its activity on automobile financing. The operation will only have a minor impact in the field of banking services to individuals and to companies in Germany for SMEs that practise automobile leasing and grant loans to dealers for forming stocks. The combined market share of the parties is far below 10% if consumer credit for the purchase of motorbikes is considered a separate market. In this particular market segment, the combined market share will be around 25-30%, but competition is fierce.