# C_2016174EN.01001701.xml

| 14.5.2016 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 174/17 |
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14.5.2016

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 174/17

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7999 — Hearst Corporation/Advance Publications/JV)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2016/C 174/07)

| 1. | On 4 May 2016, 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 Hearst Publishing Services, Inc., belonging to The Hearst Corporation (‘Hearst’, United States of America), and Advance Publications, Inc. (‘Advance Publications’, United States of America) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the whole of a joint venture (the ‘JV’) by way of purchase of shares in, and contribution of assets to, a newly created company constituting a joint venture. |
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1.

On 4 May 2016, 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 Hearst Publishing Services, Inc., belonging to The Hearst Corporation (‘Hearst’, United States of America), and Advance Publications, Inc. (‘Advance Publications’, United States of America) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the whole of a joint venture (the ‘JV’) by way of purchase of shares in, and contribution of assets to, a newly created company constituting a joint venture.

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






  — | for Hearst: newpapers, magazines, cable television, TV stations, credit-rating services, medical information services and internet activities, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for Hearst: newpapers, magazines, cable television, TV stations, credit-rating services, medical information services and internet activities,

| — | for Advance Publications: newpapers, magazines, internet sites related to its print publications, cable television, development of film, television and digital video programming, |
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for Advance Publications: newpapers, magazines, internet sites related to its print publications, cable television, development of film, television and digital video programming,

| — | the JV will provide procurement, circulation management and back-office services relating to the publishing of print magazines, including digital editions thereof, to its parents and to third parties. |
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the JV will provide procurement, circulation management and back-office services relating to the publishing of print magazines, including digital editions thereof, to its parents and to third parties.

| 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 the 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 the 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.7999 — Hearst Corporation/Advance Publications/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.7999 — Hearst Corporation/Advance Publications/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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