Press Release: Mergers: Commission approves Universal’s proposed takeover of BMG’s music publishing business, subject to commitments

The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of the music publishing business of Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) of Germany by the US-based Universal. The Commission found that the proposed merger, as initially notified, raised serious doubts as regards adverse effects on competition in the market for music publishing rights for online applications. However, the Commission's investigation found that these concerns would be removed by the remedies package proposed by the parties concerning the divestiture of a number of publishing catalogues. In the light of these commitments, the Commission has concluded that the proposed operation would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.