# C_2013290EN.01000301.xml

| 5.10.2013 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 290/3 |
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5.10.2013

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 290/3

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.6941 — Piper/G+J/G+J RBA)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

2013/C 290/03

| 1. | On 27 September 2013, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Piper Verlag GmbH (‘Piper’, Germany), belonging to the Bonnier Group (‘Bonnier’, Sweden), acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the undertaking G+J/RBA GmbH & Co. KG (‘G+J/RBA’, Germany) by way of purchase of shares. The other controlling party is G+J AG & Co. KG (‘G+J’, Germany), belonging to the Bertelsmann group (‘Bertelsmann’, Germany). Piper also acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of the whole of the newly founded National Geographic Buchgesellschaft mbH (‘NGB’, Germany) by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 27 September 2013, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Piper Verlag GmbH (‘Piper’, Germany), belonging to the Bonnier Group (‘Bonnier’, Sweden), acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the undertaking G+J/RBA GmbH & Co. KG (‘G+J/RBA’, Germany) by way of purchase of shares. The other controlling party is G+J AG & Co. KG (‘G+J’, Germany), belonging to the Bertelsmann group (‘Bertelsmann’, Germany). Piper also acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of the whole of the newly founded National Geographic Buchgesellschaft mbH (‘NGB’, Germany) by way of purchase of shares.

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:






  — | Bonnier: Publishing of books, journals, periodicals, radio and tv services, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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Bonnier: Publishing of books, journals, periodicals, radio and tv services,

| — | Bertelsmann: Publishing and distribution of journals and periodicals and supplementary online offers; radio and TV broadcasting, TV production, publishing of books and business processes outsourcing services, |
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Bertelsmann: Publishing and distribution of journals and periodicals and supplementary online offers; radio and TV broadcasting, TV production, publishing of books and business processes outsourcing services,

| — | G+J/RBA: Publishing of journals, periodicals and related products, especially calendars, travel guidebooks and DVDs, |
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G+J/RBA: Publishing of journals, periodicals and related products, especially calendars, travel guidebooks and DVDs,

| — | NGB: Publishing of books. |
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NGB: Publishing of books.

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the EC Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under the EC Merger Regulation (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice. |
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3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the EC Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under the EC Merger Regulation (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

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| 4. | The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.
  Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (+32 22964301), by email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.6941 — Piper/G+J/G+J RBA, to the following address:





  European Commission |
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| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel |
| BELGIQUE/BELGIË |

4.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (+32 22964301), by email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.6941 — Piper/G+J/G+J RBA, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

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(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘EC Merger Regulation’).

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(2)  OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32 (‘Notice on a simplified procedure’).

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