# C_2015189EN.01001001.xml

| 6.6.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 189/10 |
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6.6.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 189/10

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7648 — eBook.de/Hugendubel/JV)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 189/03)

| 1. | On 26 May 2015, 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 eBook.de NET GmbH (‘eBook.de’, Germany), controlled by Libri GmbH (‘Libri’, Germany) and Heinrich Hugendubel GmbH und Co. KG Buchhandlung und Antiquariat (‘Hugendubel’, Germany), controlled by DBH Buch Handels GmbH & Co. KG (‘DBH’, Germany) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and Article 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control by way of purchase of shares in a newly created joint venture. |
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1.

On 26 May 2015, 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 eBook.de NET GmbH (‘eBook.de’, Germany), controlled by Libri GmbH (‘Libri’, Germany) and Heinrich Hugendubel GmbH und Co. KG Buchhandlung und Antiquariat (‘Hugendubel’, Germany), controlled by DBH Buch Handels GmbH & Co. KG (‘DBH’, Germany) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and Article 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control by way of purchase of shares in a newly created joint venture.

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   for eBook.de: sale of books, eBooks and other products such as eBook readers, audio books, calendars, CDs, DVDs and toys to consumers through an online platform mainly in Germany,
  —   for Hugendubel: sale of books, eBooks and other products such as eBook readers, audio books, calendars, CDs, DVDs and toys to consumers in physical outlets in Germany and through an online platform mainly in Germany. Hugendubel also offers dedicated services to business customers and public bodies which include the acquisition of specialised literature and the administration of subscriptions,
  —   for the joint venture: sale of books, eBooks and other products such as eBook readers, audio books, calendars, CDs, DVDs and toys to consumers through an online platform. |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for eBook.de: sale of books, eBooks and other products such as eBook readers, audio books, calendars, CDs, DVDs and toys to consumers through an online platform mainly in Germany,

for eBook.de

—   for Hugendubel: sale of books, eBooks and other products such as eBook readers, audio books, calendars, CDs, DVDs and toys to consumers in physical outlets in Germany and through an online platform mainly in Germany. Hugendubel also offers dedicated services to business customers and public bodies which include the acquisition of specialised literature and the administration of subscriptions,

for Hugendubel

—   for the joint venture: sale of books, eBooks and other products such as eBook readers, audio books, calendars, CDs, DVDs and toys to consumers through an online platform.

for the joint venture

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the 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 Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in this Notice. |
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3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the 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 Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in this 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 M.7648 — eBook.de/Hugendubel/JV, 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 M.7648 — eBook.de/Hugendubel/JV, 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 ‘Merger Regulation’).

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(2)  OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.

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