1.   

On 23 August 2019, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1).

This notification concerns the following undertakings:

—	AGF Benelux S.à.r.l. (Germany), controlled by Allianz SE (‘Allianz’, Germany),

—	OMERS Infrastructure European Holdings B.V. (‘OMERS Infrastructure’, the Netherlands), controlled by OMERS Administration Corporation (‘OMERS’, Canada),

—	Altice France S.A. (France), controlled by Altice Europe N.V. (‘Altice’, the Netherlands),

—	SFR FTTH SAS (‘SFR FTTH’, France), currently controlled by OMERS and Altice.

Allianz, OMERS and Altice acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation indirect joint control of SFR FTTH.

The concentration is accomplished by way of contract or any other means.

2.   

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for Allianz: global financial services group active in insurance and asset management,

—   for OMERS: administration of the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System Primary Pension Plan by investing in infrastructure (via OMERS Infrastructure) and private equity assets,

—   for Altice: telecommunications, media, entertainment and advertising,

—   for SFR FTTH: fibre network activity in certain areas of France, outside the high density areas as defined by the French electronic communications regulator, the ‘Autorité de regulation des communications éléctroniques et des postes’.

3.   

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under the Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

4.   

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. The following reference should always be specified:

M.9464 — OMERS/Altice/Allianz/SFR FTTH

Observations can be sent to the Commission by email, by fax, or by post. Please use the contact details below:

Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu

Fax +32 22964301

Postal address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË