Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.8828 — Gauselmann/NOVOMATIC/Spielbank Bad Neuenahr/Spielbank Mainz JV) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance.)
Date: 2018-09-14
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: automatic game, economic concentration, gaming establishment, merger control








C_2018325EN.01001601.xml










14.9.2018   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 325/16






Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.8828 — Gauselmann/NOVOMATIC/Spielbank Bad Neuenahr/Spielbank Mainz JV)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2018/C 325/09)

1.   
On 7 September 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:






—


Gauselmann Spielbanken Beteiligungs GmbH (‘Gauselmann’, Germany),










—


NOVOMATIC Spielbanken Holding Deutschland GmbH (‘NOVOMATIC’, Germany),










—


Spielbank Bad Neuenahr GmbH & Co. KG (‘Spielbank Bad Neuenahr’, Germany),










—


Spielbank Mainz GmbH & Co. KG and Spielbank Mainz Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH (together ‘Spielbank Mainz’, Germany).




Gauselmann, NOVOMATIC and Spielbank Bad Neuenahr acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control over Spielbank Mainz by way of purchase of shares.


2.   
The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
—   for Gauselmann: part of the Gauselmann group. The Gauselmann group develops and manufactures gaming machines for casinos and arcades, as well as relating games, gaming software and gaming systems. Moreover, Gauselmann operates casinos and arcades in Germany and abroad. Gauselmann is also engaged in sports betting and online gaming. Gauselmann has its business seat in Espelkamp, Germany,
—   for NOVOMATIC: part of the Novomatic Group, a global provider of gaming-technology with seat in Gumpoldskirchen, Austria. NOVOMATIC group produces and sells gaming technology and equipment and operates companies engaged in gaming and gambling,
—   for Spielbank Bad Neuenahr: operates three casinos in Rhineland-Palatinate, located in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Bad Dürkheim and Nürburg. In all three locations, Spielbank Bad Neuenahr offers live gaming (table games, such as roulette, blackjack and poker) and machine gaming. In addition, Spielbank Bad Neuenahr operates the three casinos of Spielbank Mainz together with NOVOMATIC,
—   for Spielbank Mainz: operates three casino locations in Bad Ems, Mainz and Trier. In all three locations, Spielbank Mainz offers live gaming (table games, such as roulette, blackjack and baccarat) and machine gaming.


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.8828 — Gauselmann/NOVOMATIC/Spielbank Bad Neuenahr/Spielbank Mainz JV
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







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

(2)  OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.