Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9158 — SoftBank/Toyota Motor Corporation/MONET Technologies JV) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance.)
Date: 2018-11-26
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Internet of Things, clean technology, economic concentration, merger control, motor vehicle industry, parent company, robotics, telecommunications, vehicle parts








C_2018425EN.01001901.xml










26.11.2018   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 425/19






Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.9158 — SoftBank/Toyota Motor Corporation/MONET Technologies JV)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2018/C 425/10)

1.   
On 19 November 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:






—


SoftBank Corp. (‘SoftBank’, Japan), belonging to SoftBank Group Corp. (‘SoftBank Group’, Japan),










—


Toyota Motor Corporation (‘TMC’, Japan).




SoftBank and TMC acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the newly created joint venture MONET Technologies Corporation, which, in a first phase, will develop and commercialise software platforms aimed at providing on-demand transportation services operated by bus or taxi, alongside public transport, in Japan, and, at a later stage, will use the software platforms to supply mobility services using autonomous vehicles.
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture.


2.   
The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
—   for SoftBank Group: parent company of a global portfolio of subsidiaries and affiliates involved in advanced telecommunications, internet services, internet of things, robotics and clean energy technology providers,
—   for TMC: design, manufacture, assembly and sale of passenger vehicles, minivans, commercial vehicles, related parts and accessories.


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.9158 — SoftBank/Toyota Motor Corporation/MONET Technologies 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.