# C_2014205EN.01001401.xml

| 2.7.2014 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 205/14 |
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2.7.2014

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 205/14

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7290 — Apple/Beats)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2014/C 205/09)

| 1. | On 24 June 2014, 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 Apple Inc. (United States of America) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of the undertakings Beats Electronics, LLC and Beats Music, LLC (United States of America) by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 24 June 2014, 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 Apple Inc. (United States of America) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of the undertakings Beats Electronics, LLC and Beats Music, LLC (United States of America) by way of purchase of shares.

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   for Apple Inc.: design, manufacturing and marketing of mobile communication and media devices, personal computers and portable digital music players, and sale of related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions, and third-party digital content and applications,
  —   for Beats Electronics, LLC: design, development and promotion of specialist audio technology, including headphones, audio speakers and, to a limited extent, audio software/hardware technology for computer hardware devices,
  —   for Beats Music, LLC: distribution of music. |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for Apple Inc.: design, manufacturing and marketing of mobile communication and media devices, personal computers and portable digital music players, and sale of related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions, and third-party digital content and applications,

for Apple Inc.

—   for Beats Electronics, LLC: design, development and promotion of specialist audio technology, including headphones, audio speakers and, to a limited extent, audio software/hardware technology for computer hardware devices,

for Beats Electronics, LLC

—   for Beats Music, LLC: distribution of music.

for Beats Music, LLC

| 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. |
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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.

| 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 e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.7290 — Apple/Beats 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 e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.7290 — Apple/Beats 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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