# C_2016221EN.01000901.xml

| 18.6.2016 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 221/9 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

18.6.2016

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 221/9

---

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.8065 — Verizon Communications/Hearst Corporation/Complex Media Holdings)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2016/C 221/09)

| 1. | On 10 June 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 Verizon Media LLC (‘Verizon’ of the United States) and Hearst Group (‘Hearst’ of the United States) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the undertaking Complex Media Inc (‘Complex’ of the United States) by way of purchase of shares. |
| --- | --- |

1.

On 10 June 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 Verizon Media LLC (‘Verizon’ of the United States) and Hearst Group (‘Hearst’ of the United States) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the undertaking Complex Media Inc (‘Complex’ of the United States) by way of purchase of shares.

1

| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   for Verizon: provider of communications, information and entertainment products and services to consumers, businesses and governmental agencies,
  —   for Hearst: provision of media and information, including ownership in cable television channels, newspapers and investments in digital and video companies,
  —   for Complex: provision of digital media content (predominantly text articles and short-form videos) that is focused on American popular culture, which is primarily distributed via its own websites and other platforms. |
| --- | --- |

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for Verizon: provider of communications, information and entertainment products and services to consumers, businesses and governmental agencies,

for Verizon

—   for Hearst: provision of media and information, including ownership in cable television channels, newspapers and investments in digital and video companies,

for Hearst

—   for Complex: provision of digital media content (predominantly text articles and short-form videos) that is focused on American popular culture, which is primarily distributed via its own websites and other platforms.

for Complex

| 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. |
| --- | --- |

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.

2

| 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.8065 — Verizon Communications/Hearst Corporation/Complex Media Holdings to the following address:





  European Commission |
| --- | --- |
| 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.8065 — Verizon Communications/Hearst Corporation/Complex Media Holdings to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

---

(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘Merger Regulation’).

1

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

2

---