Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.8478 — Zukunft Ventures/Gustav Magenwirth/Brake Force One/Unicorn Energy/JV) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance. )
Date: 2017-11-21
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: cycle and motorcycle industry, economic concentration, merger control, motor vehicle industry








C_2017393EN.01001701.xml










21.11.2017   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 393/17





Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.8478 — Zukunft Ventures/Gustav Magenwirth/Brake Force One/Unicorn Energy/JV)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2017/C 393/08)






1.


On 14 November 2017, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 and following a referral pursuant to Article 4(5) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1).
This notification concerns the following undertakings:






—


Zukunft Ventures GmbH (‘ZV’, Germany), controlled by ZF Friedrichshafen AG (‘ZF’, Germany),










—


Gustav Magenwirth GmbH & Co. KG (‘MAGURA’, Germany), controlled by Magenwirth Technologies GmbH (Germany),










—


Brake Force One GmbH (‘BFO’, Germany),










—


Unicorn Energy GmbH (‘Unicorn’, Germany), controlled by Preiß BeteiligungsGmbH (Germany),










—


newly created joint venture (‘the JV’, Germany).




ZV, MAGURA, BFO and Unicorn acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the JV.
The concentration is accomplished by way of a purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture.










2.


The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
—   for ZV: holds interests in innovative start-ups and technology companies which are active on technology fields interesting for ZF. ZF is active worldwide in drive and gear technology, as well as active and passive security technology,
—   for MAGURA: develops, produces and supplies hydraulic brake systems and other high-tech components for bicycles, e-bikes, pedelecs and motorbikes,
—   for BFO: active in the development of brake systems for two-wheeled vehicles. Furthermore, it develops e-bikes for the German automotive industry,
—   for Unicorn: active in the development of drive systems for electric light vehicles,
—   for the JV: will be active in the research, development, production and supply of ABS and drive systems for electric light vehicles, including the vehicle segment ‘new urban mobility’ (bicycles, e-bikes, pedelecs, e-scooters, last mile mobility up to the L7e class).










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.










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.8478 — Zukunft Ventures/Gustav Magenwirth/Brake Force One/Unicorn Energy/JV
Observations can be sent to the Commission by email, by fax, or by post. Please use the contact details below:





E-mail: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu




Fax +32 22964301




Postal 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’).

(2)  OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.