# C_2018171EN.01001501.xml

| 18.5.2018 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 171/15 |
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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.8906 — Goodyear/Bridgestone/TireHub)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2018/C 171/07)

| 1. | On 7 May 2018, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004( 1 ).
This notification concerns the following undertakings:
—
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (United States), —
Bridgestone Corporation (Japan), —
TireHub, LLC. Goodyear and Bridgestone acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of TireHub.
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture. | — | Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (United States), | — | Bridgestone Corporation (Japan), | — | TireHub, LLC. |
| -- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | - | ----------------------------------------------- | - | -------------------------------- | - | ------------- |
| — | Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (United States), | | | | | | |
| — | Bridgestone Corporation (Japan), | | | | | | |
| — | TireHub, LLC. | | | | | | |

| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
—
Goodyear is a US-based manufacturer and distributor of tyres and related products and services, active worldwide, —
Bridgestone is a Japanese corporation which is active worldwide in the manufacture and sale of tyre and rubber products, —
TireHub will combine the US tyre wholesale distribution businesses of Bridgestone and Goodyear to offer wholesale, distribution and delivery services to customers across a broad range of products and an expanded network of locations across the US. | — | Goodyear is a US-based manufacturer and distributor of tyres and related products and services, active worldwide, | — | Bridgestone is a Japanese corporation which is active worldwide in the manufacture and sale of tyre and rubber products, | — | TireHub will combine the US tyre wholesale distribution businesses of Bridgestone and Goodyear to offer wholesale, distribution and delivery services to customers across a broad range of products and an expanded network of locations across the US. |
| -- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | - | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | - | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | - | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| — | Goodyear is a US-based manufacturer and distributor of tyres and related products and services, active worldwide, | | | | | | |
| — | Bridgestone is a Japanese corporation which is active worldwide in the manufacture and sale of tyre and rubber products, | | | | | | |
| — | TireHub will combine the US tyre wholesale distribution businesses of Bridgestone and Goodyear to offer wholesale, distribution and delivery services to customers across a broad range of products and an expanded network of locations across the US. | | | | | | |

| 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 the 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. The following reference should always be specified:
M.8906 — Goodyear/Bridgestone/TireHub
Observations can be sent to the Commission by email, by fax, or by post. Please use the contact details below:
Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu Fax +32 22964301 Postal address: European Commission Directorate-General for Competition Merger Registry 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel BELGIQUE/BELGIË | Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu | Fax +32 22964301 | Postal address: | European Commission | Directorate-General for Competition | Merger Registry | 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel | BELGIQUE/BELGIË |
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| Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu | | | | | | | | | |
| Fax +32 22964301 | | | | | | | | | |
| Postal 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’).

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

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