Press Release: Mergers: Commission clears proposed joint venture for payment card services between First Data Corporation and Allied Irish Banks

The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed creation of a joint venture between First Data Corporation of the US and Allied Irish Banks. The joint venture will provide services relating to the use and acceptance of payment cards, primarily in Ireland but also in other EU member states. The Commission concluded that the operation would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or in any substantial part of it.