Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9236 — Radeberger/Veltins/JV) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance.)
Date: 2019-01-24
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: beer, beverage industry, economic concentration, foodstuff, logistics, merger control, non-alcoholic beverage, provision of services, wholesale trade








C_2019030EN.01000901.xml










24.1.2019   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 30/9






Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.9236 — Radeberger/Veltins/JV)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2019/C 30/09)

1.   
On 16 January 2019, 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:






—


Radeberger Gruppe KG (‘Radeberger’, Germany), controlled by Dr. August Oetker KG (‘Oetker’, Germany),










—


Veltins Beteiligungen GmbH & Co. KG (‘Veltins’, Germany), controlled by C. & A. Veltins GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), and










—


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




Radeberger and Veltins acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and Article 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the JV.
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares and contribution of assets.


2.   
The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
—   Radeberger: production of beer and mineral water, and distribution of beer and non-alcoholic drinks; wholesale distribution of drinks,
—   Oetker: production and distribution of food products, including drinks, and provision of transport services; wholesale distribution of drinks,
—   Veltins: brewery, producing beer (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), beer-based drinks and non-alcoholic flavoured beers (Fassbrause); wholesale distribution of drinks,
—   JV: wholesale distribution of drinks in the retail market segment including logistics services such as distribution and purchase of drinks; logistics and freight forwarding; handling of empties. Radeberger and Veltins will both bring into the joint venture some of their subsidiaries already working in the wholesale distribution of drinks in the retail market segment and empties-handling services.


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 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.9236 — Radeberger/Veltins/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.