On November 25, 2024, Editis notified the Autorité de la concurrence of its intention to acquire sole control of the Delcourt group. After a thorough examination of the potential impacts on the publishing sector, particularly the comic book segment, the Autorité cleared the transaction without any conditions.

Editis is a prominent general book publishing group with around 50 publishing houses, including Kurokawa, which publishes popular manga titles. Delcourt, on the other hand, specializes in comic books and operates under several imprints, including Delcourt and Soleil. The acquisition aims to enhance Editis's portfolio in the comic book market.

The Autorité's analysis involved a detailed look at the book chain, which includes various players from editors to resellers. It identified multiple relevant markets, including those for acquiring publishing rights, marketing services, distribution services, and the sale of books.

Ultimately, the Autorité found no significant risk of competition harm from the merger. It noted that the combined entity would hold relatively limited market shares and that the operations of Editis and Delcourt were complementary. Furthermore, there are sufficient alternatives available in the market, mitigating any potential anti-competitive effects.

The Autorité also assessed the risk of Editis potentially restricting access to its marketing and distribution services for competitors, concluding that such a strategy would have limited benefits and impact. The decision to clear the acquisition reflects a careful consideration of the competitive landscape in the publishing sector.