# C_2005049EN.01001501.xml

| 25.2.2005 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 49/15 |
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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3595 — SONY/MGM)

(2005/C 49/09)

(Text with EEA relevance)

| 1. | On 18 February 2005, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004( 1 ) by which the undertakings Providence Equity Partners IV, L.P., ultimately controlled by Providence Equity Partners IV LLC (‘Providence’; USA), TPG Partners IV, L.P., controlled by TPG Advisors IV Inc. (‘TPG’; USA) and Sony Corporation of America, belonging to the Sony group (‘Sony’; Japan), acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. (‘MGM’, USA) by way of purchase of shares. |
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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
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for Providence: investment fund, specialising in equity investments in media and communications companies, —
for TPG investment fund, participating in a variety of companies, —
for Sony: manufacturing of audio, video, communications and information technology products; production, acquisition and theatrical distribution of motion pictures; production and acquisition of motion pictures and other content (including TV programmes) for distribution on DVD / VHS; licensing of broadcasting rights for motion pictures, TV programmes and TV channels, —
for MGM: production and acquisition of motion pictures for theatrical release; production and acquisition of motion pictures and other content (including TV programmes) for distribution mainly on DVD; licensing of broadcasting rights for motion pictures, TV programmes and TV channels. | — | for Providence: investment fund, specialising in equity investments in media and communications companies, | — | for TPG investment fund, participating in a variety of companies, | — | for Sony: manufacturing of audio, video, communications and information technology products; production, acquisition and theatrical distribution of motion pictures; production and acquisition of motion pictures and other content (including TV programmes) for distribution on DVD / VHS; licensing of broadcasting rights for motion pictures, TV programmes and TV channels, | — | for MGM: production and acquisition of motion pictures for theatrical release; production and acquisition of motion pictures and other content (including TV programmes) for distribution mainly on DVD; licensing of broadcasting rights for motion pictures, TV programmes and TV channels. |
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| — | for Providence: investment fund, specialising in equity investments in media and communications companies, | | | | | | | | |
| — | for TPG investment fund, participating in a variety of companies, | | | | | | | | |
| — | for Sony: manufacturing of audio, video, communications and information technology products; production, acquisition and theatrical distribution of motion pictures; production and acquisition of motion pictures and other content (including TV programmes) for distribution on DVD / VHS; licensing of broadcasting rights for motion pictures, TV programmes and TV channels, | | | | | | | | |
| — | for MGM: production and acquisition of motion pictures for theatrical release; production and acquisition of motion pictures and other content (including TV programmes) for distribution mainly on DVD; licensing of broadcasting rights for motion pictures, TV programmes and TV channels. | | | | | | | | |

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. |
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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 (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.3595 — SONY/MGM, to the following address:
European Commission Directorate-General for Competition, Merger Registry J-70 B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel | European Commission | Directorate-General for Competition, | Merger Registry | J-70 | B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel |
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| European Commission | | | | | | |
| Directorate-General for Competition, | | | | | | |
| Merger Registry | | | | | | |
| J-70 | | | | | | |
| B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel | | | | | | |

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( 1 )  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

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