Brussels reviews Amplifon's bid for sole control of GN Hearing

The European Commission has received notification of a proposed concentration under which Amplifon S.p.A. would acquire sole control of GN Hearing A/S, a transaction that would link the world’s leading hearing-aid retail network with a global manufacturer. The prior notification, filed on 1 October 2026 under Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004, was published in the Official Journal of the European Union, C series, on 9 October 2026 as document C/2026/5268, under case number M.12475 – AMPLIFON / GN HEARING. Interested third parties have ten days from publication to send their observations to the Commission.

The notice, published with EEA relevance, records that the concentration is to be accomplished by way of purchase of shares. Amplifon S.p.A., an Italian undertaking ultimately solely controlled by Ms. Susan Carol Holland, specialises at worldwide level in the retail distribution, fitting and personalisation of hearing aids and related hearing care services. GN Hearing A/S, a Danish undertaking solely controlled by GN Store Nord A/S, is a global manufacturer and wholesale distributor of hearing aids, with sales mostly outside the EEA, in over 100 countries around the world under proprietary brands.

The filing therefore brings together two different links of the hearing-care chain: a distribution and fitting business on one side, and a manufacturing and wholesale operation on the other. The Commission states that, on preliminary examination, the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation, while expressly reserving the final decision on that point.

The undertakings concerned

• Amplifon S.p.A. (Italy), ultimately solely controlled by Ms. Susan Carol Holland — worldwide retail distribution, fitting and personalisation of hearing aids and related hearing care services.
• GN Hearing A/S (Denmark), solely controlled by GN Store Nord A/S — global manufacturer and wholesale distributor of hearing aids, selling in over 100 countries under proprietary brands, mostly outside the EEA.
• The acquisition of sole control is assessed under Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation and is to be carried out through the purchase of shares.

Preliminary review and scope

The Commission’s notice makes clear that the assessment published on 9 October 2026 is a preliminary one. The institution finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 — published in OJ L 24, 29 January 2004, p. 1 — but the final decision on whether the concentration falls within that scope remains reserved.

Because the operation concerns the supply and retail of hearing aids across the European Economic Area, the Commission has opened the file to third-party comment before deciding on the case. The notification itself does not prejudge the outcome of any subsequent examination.

How to submit observations

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed concentration. The following conditions apply:

• Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of publication, that is, by 19 October 2026.
• The reference M.12475 – AMPLIFON / GN HEARING must always be specified.
• Observations may be sent by email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu.
• They may also be sent by post to the European Commission, Directorate-General for Competition, Merger Registry, 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel, BELGIQUE/BELGIË.

The case matters well beyond the two companies involved. Hearing aids are a concentrated global market, and the combination of a large retail and fitting network with a major manufacturer touches competitors, independent retailers and the consumers who depend on these devices across the EEA. The ten-day window published in the Official Journal is the first formal opportunity for rivals, distributors and patient organisations to put their concerns on the record before the Commission decides how to proceed.

Source: Official Journal of the European Union, C/2026/5268, 9 October 2026, C series (official reference: C/2026/5268).