# C_2017253EN.01001201.xml

| 4.8.2017 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 253/12 |
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4.8.2017

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 253/12

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.8564 — Viacom International Media Networks Italia/De Agostini Editore/DeA Broadcast JV)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2017/C 253/09)

| 1. | On 28 July 2017, 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 Viacom International Media Networks Italia srl (belonging to the Viacom group, ‘VIMNI’, United States) and De Agostini Editore SpA (belonging to the De Agostini group, ‘DeA Editore’, Italy) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the undertaking DeA Broadcast srl (‘JV’, Italy), a newly created company constituting a joint venture, by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 28 July 2017, 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 Viacom International Media Networks Italia srl (belonging to the Viacom group, ‘VIMNI’, United States) and De Agostini Editore SpA (belonging to the De Agostini group, ‘DeA Editore’, Italy) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the undertaking DeA Broadcast srl (‘JV’, Italy), a newly created company constituting a joint venture, by way of purchase of shares.

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   for VIMNI: part of Viacom group, active in the development of television programs, motion pictures, short-form content, applications, games, consumer products, social media experiences and other entertainment content,
  —   for DeA Editore: part of DeAgostini group, active in publishing, media and communications, gaming, and financial investment services,
  —   for the JV: development of a thematic channel and its related website. |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for VIMNI: part of Viacom group, active in the development of television programs, motion pictures, short-form content, applications, games, consumer products, social media experiences and other entertainment content,

for VIMNI

—   for DeA Editore: part of DeAgostini group, active in publishing, media and communications, gaming, and financial investment services,

for DeA Editore

—   for the JV: development of a thematic channel and its related website.

for the JV

| 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 M.8564 — Viacom International Media Networks Italia/De Agostini Editore/DeA Broadcast 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 M.8564 — Viacom International Media Networks Italia/De Agostini Editore/DeA Broadcast 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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