Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11399 – AXEL JOHNSON / DUSTIN) – Candidate case for simplified procedure
Date: 2024-01-04
Institutions: Directorate-General for Competition, European Commission
Subjects: computer equipment, economic concentration, energy industry, food production, information technology, investment company, merger control, software








C_202400586EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
Series C













C/2024/586


4.1.2024






Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.11399 – AXEL JOHNSON / DUSTIN)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(C/2024/586)


1.   
On 20 December 2023, 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:






—


Axel Johnson AB (‘Axel Johnson’, Sweden), and










—


Dustin Group AB (‘Dustin’, Sweden).




Axel Johnson will acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of the whole of Dustin.
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.


2.   
The business activities of the undertakings concerned are the following:






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Axel Johnson is a family-owned business group focusing on long-term investments. Axel Johnson currently controls five companies which are active in various sectors raging from food, energy, IT and industry. In addition, Axel Johnson held until recently approx. 34 % of the votes in Dustin.










—


Dustin is a provider of IT products, services and solutions active in the Nordic region and Benelux. Dustin provides hardware products (including computers, mobile phones, printers and computer accessories such as displays, mice and keyboard and cables) from various suppliers and brands, as well as software and related IT solutions 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 on the control of concentrations between undertakings (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.11399 – AXEL JOHNSON / DUSTIN
Observations can be sent to the Commission by email or by post. Please use the contact details below:
Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu
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 160, 5.5.2023, p. 1.


ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/586/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)