1.   

On 30 January 2020, 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:

—	Phoenix Tower International Holdco LLC (‘PTI’, USA), belonging to the Blackstone Group (USA),

—	Bouygues Telecom (‘BYTEL’, France).

PTI and BYTEL acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of a newly created company.

The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture.

2.   

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—	PTI: hosting service provider for mobile telephony equipment outside France,

—	BYTEL: mobile and fixed telecommunications operator in France,

—	BTI: hosting service provider for mobile telephony equipment in France.

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 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 to it their possible observations on the proposed operation.

Observations must reach the Commission no later than ten days following the date on which this notification is published. The following reference should always be specified:

M. 9729 — Bouygues Telecom/Phoenix Tower International/JV

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

BELGIUM