# C_2009042EN.01001401.xml

| 20.2.2009 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 42/14 |
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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.5474 — Lagardère/Sumitomo/HFG)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2009/C 42/08)

| 1. | On 13 February 2009, 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 Lagardère SCA (‘Lagardère’, France) through its subsidiary Hachette Filippacchi Press (‘HFP’, France) and Sumitomo Corporation (‘Sumitomo’, Japan) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking Hachette FujinGaho (‘HFG’, Japan) by way of purchase of shares. HFG is currently wholly owned by HFP. |
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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
—
for Lagardère: Lagardère is a worldwide media group headquartered in France and listed on the Paris Stock Exchange. Lagardère is mainly active in the sectors such as book and magazine publishing; radio and TV broadcasting; film and TV production and distribution; advertising sales brokerage; website publishing; travel retail; and brokerage and management of sport-related rights, —
for HFP: HFP is a worldwide publisher of consumer magazines. HFP is also engaged in the sale of advertising space in its own titles and those of third parties, —
for Sumitomo: Sumitomo is the ultimate parent company of the Sumitomo Corporation Group and is an integrated trading company which provides a comprehensive range of services in Japan and around the world, including Asia, the United States and Europe, —
for HFG: HFG is currently active in the publishing of female fashion and lifestyle magazines and related printed and web publications in Japan. HFG will develop additional activities, such as distance selling of female fashion products. | — | for Lagardère: Lagardère is a worldwide media group headquartered in France and listed on the Paris Stock Exchange. Lagardère is mainly active in the sectors such as book and magazine publishing; radio and TV broadcasting; film and TV production and distribution; advertising sales brokerage; website publishing; travel retail; and brokerage and management of sport-related rights, | — | for HFP: HFP is a worldwide publisher of consumer magazines. HFP is also engaged in the sale of advertising space in its own titles and those of third parties, | — | for Sumitomo: Sumitomo is the ultimate parent company of the Sumitomo Corporation Group and is an integrated trading company which provides a comprehensive range of services in Japan and around the world, including Asia, the United States and Europe, | — | for HFG: HFG is currently active in the publishing of female fashion and lifestyle magazines and related printed and web publications in Japan. HFG will develop additional activities, such as distance selling of female fashion products. |
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| — | for Lagardère: Lagardère is a worldwide media group headquartered in France and listed on the Paris Stock Exchange. Lagardère is mainly active in the sectors such as book and magazine publishing; radio and TV broadcasting; film and TV production and distribution; advertising sales brokerage; website publishing; travel retail; and brokerage and management of sport-related rights, | | | | | | | | |
| — | for HFP: HFP is a worldwide publisher of consumer magazines. HFP is also engaged in the sale of advertising space in its own titles and those of third parties, | | | | | | | | |
| — | for Sumitomo: Sumitomo is the ultimate parent company of the Sumitomo Corporation Group and is an integrated trading company which provides a comprehensive range of services in Japan and around the world, including Asia, the United States and Europe, | | | | | | | | |
| — | for HFG: HFG is currently active in the publishing of female fashion and lifestyle magazines and related printed and web publications in Japan. HFG will develop additional activities, such as distance selling of female fashion products. | | | | | | | | |

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. 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 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. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax ((32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.5474 — Lagardère/Sumitomo/HFG, to the following address:
European Commission Directorate-General for Competition Merger Registry J-70 B-1049 Brussels | European Commission | Directorate-General for Competition | Merger Registry | J-70 | B-1049 Brussels |
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| European Commission | | | | | | |
| Directorate-General for Competition | | | | | | |
| Merger Registry | | | | | | |
| J-70 | | | | | | |
| B-1049 Brussels | | | | | | |

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( 1 )  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

( 2 )  OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32.

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