Commission Decision of 19/12/2003 declaring a concentration to be compatible with the common market (Case No IV/M.3303 - GE / VIVENDI UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT) according to Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 (Only the English text is authentic) Official Journal 006 , 10/01/2004 P. 0022 - 0022 Commission Decision of 19/12/2003 declaring a concentration to be compatible with the common market (Case No IV/M.3303 - GE / VIVENDI UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT) according to Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 (Only the English text is authentic) To the notifying party Dear Madam and Sirs, Subject: Case No. COMP/M.3303 - GE/Vivendi Universal Entertainment Notification of 21/11/2003 pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No.
4064/89 [1], as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1310/97 [2] Publication in the Official Journal of the European Union No. C 285 dated 28/11/2003, page 26 [1] OJ L 395, 30.12.1989 p. 1; corrigendum: OJ L 257, 21.9.1990, p. 13. [2] OJ L 180, 9. 7. 1997, p. 1; corrigendum OJ L 40, 13.2.1998, p. 17. 1. On 21/11/2003 the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 4064/89 by which the undertaking General Electric Company (« GE », U.S.A.) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of Vivendi Universal Entertainment LLP (« VUE, U.S.A.), currently controlled by Vivendi Universal S.A.
(France), 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 GE: diversified manufacturing, technology and services company with a variety of business units, including NBC (National Broadcasting Company). - for VUE: production and distribution of feature films ; operation of cable television networks ; production and distribution of television programming ; movie studio and theme park. 3. After examination of the notification, the Commission has concluded that the notified operation falls within the scope of Council Regulation (EEC) No.
4064/89 and of paragraph 4 subparagraph c, of the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 [3]. [3] OJ C 217, 29.07.2000, p. 32. 4. For the reasons set out in the Notice on a simplified procedure, the Commission has decided not to oppose the notified operation and to declare it compatible with the common market and with the EEA Agreement. This decision is adopted in application of Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 4064/89. For the Commission (Signed) Mario MONTI Member of the Commission