# C_2004209EN.01000401.xml

| 19.8.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 209/4 |
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19.8.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 209/4

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case No COMP/M.3512 — VNU/WPP/JV)

(2004/C 209/04)

(Text with EEA relevance)

| 1. | On 11 August 2004, 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 ACNielsen Corporation (‘ACNielsen’, USA), controlled by VNU N.V. (‘VNU’, Netherlands) and AGB Holding S.p.A. (‘AGB’, Italy), controlled by WPP Group plc (‘WPP’, UK), acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking AGB Nielsen Media Research (‘AGB Nielsen JV’) by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture. |
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1.

On 11 August 2004, 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 ACNielsen Corporation (‘ACNielsen’, USA), controlled by VNU N.V. (‘VNU’, Netherlands) and AGB Holding S.p.A. (‘AGB’, Italy), controlled by WPP Group plc (‘WPP’, UK), acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking AGB Nielsen Media Research (‘AGB Nielsen JV’) by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture.

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






  — | for ACNielsen: Market research services, media measurement services, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for ACNielsen: Market research services, media measurement services,

| — | for VNU: Market research services, media measurement services, market information services, directories, |
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for VNU: Market research services, media measurement services, market information services, directories,

| — | for AGB: Television audience measurement services, |
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for AGB: Television audience measurement services,

| — | for WPP: Advertising, media investment management, consultancy, public relations; branding, specialist communications, direct promotion, relationship marketing, marketing data services, |
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for WPP: Advertising, media investment management, consultancy, public relations; branding, specialist communications, direct promotion, relationship marketing, marketing data services,

| — | for AGB Nielsen JV: Television audience measurement services outside North America. |
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for AGB Nielsen JV: Television audience measurement services outside North America.

| 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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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.

| 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 (fax No +32/2/2964301 or 2967244) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.3512 — VNU/WPP/JV, to the following address:





  European Commission |
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| Directorate-General for Competition, |
| Merger Registry |
| J-70 |
| B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel |

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 (fax No +32/2/2964301 or 2967244) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.3512 — VNU/WPP/JV, to the following address:

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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