Gleiss Lutz has successfully advised TOPP Holding AG in merger control proceedings concerning its minority shareholding in Heinrich Hugendubel Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG (Hugendubel). This stake gives TOPP Holding AG joint control over Hugendubel together with existing shareholders.
Hamburg-based TOPP Holding AG is the parent company of Libri GmbH, a leading book wholesaler supplying bookstores throughout Germany.
Hugendubel is an owner-managed book retailer with around 100 stores and an online shop.
Clearance of the merger follows an in-depth review by the Bundeskartellamt due to Libri’s strong position in the wholesale book market. The authority accepted the parties’ argument that the investment in Hugendubel would neither significantly impede competition nor deprive bookstores of alternative suppliers, and that strong market players would continue to exert competitive pressure.
The following Gleiss Lutz team advised TOPP Holding AG on the merger control proceedings: Dr. Matthias Karl (partner, lead), Alexandra Bruch, Dr. Daniela Dirlewanger and Jan Sachsenmaier (all Competition/Antitrust, all Stuttgart).
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