Judgment of the Court (Fifth Chamber) of 7 September 2017 (request for a preliminary ruling from the Oberster Gerichtshof — Austria) — Austria Asphalt GmbH & Co OG v Bundeskartellanwalt

(Case C-248/16) (1)

((Reference for a preliminary ruling - Competition - Concentrations between undertakings - Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 - Article 3(1)(b) and (4) - Scope - Definition of ‘concentration’ - Change in the form of control of an existing undertaking which, previously exclusive, becomes joint - Creation of a joint venture performing on a lasting basis all the functions of an autonomous economic entity))

(2017/C 374/09)

Language of the case: German

Referring court

Oberster Gerichtshof

Parties to the main proceedings

Applicant: Austria Asphalt GmbH & Co OG

Defendant: Bundeskartellanwalt

Operative part of the judgment

Article 3 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 of 20 January 2004 on the control of concentrations between undertakings (the EC Merger Regulation) must be interpreted as meaning that a concentration is deemed to arise upon a change in the form of control of an existing undertaking which, previously exclusive, becomes joint, only if the joint venture created by such a transaction performs on a lasting basis all the functions of an autonomous economic entity.

(1)  OJ C 260, 18.7.2016.