Press Release: Mergers: Commission opens in-depth investigation into Universal’s take over of BMG’s music publishing business

The European Commission has decided to open a full investigation under the EU Merger Regulation into the proposed acquisition of the music publishing business of Germany’s Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) by Universal, a US-subsidiary of the French company Vivendi. The Commission’s initial market investigation indicates that the proposed merger would raise serious doubts as regards adverse effects on competition in the already concentrated music publishing market. The decision to open an in-depth inquiry does not prejudge the final result of the investigation. The Commission now has 90 working days (until 27 April 2007) to take a final decision on whether the proposed transaction would significantly impede effective competition within the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.