Division (1)

On 9 January 2004, the Commission received a notification under Article 4 of Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 (the Merger Regulation) of a transaction whereby Bertelsmann AG (Bertelsmann) and Sony Corporation of America, belonging to the Sony group (Sony), contribute the global recorded music businesses of the parties (excluding Sony’s activities in Japan) into a joint venture. This joint venture shall be operated under the name Sony BMG and will be active in the discovery and the development of artists (so-called A&R^f1) and the subsequent marketing and sale of recorded music. Sony BMG will not engage in related activities such as music publishing, manufacturing and distribution.