# C_2017167EN.01000601.xml

| 25.5.2017 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 167/6 |
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25.5.2017

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 167/6

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.8490 — Blackstone/CPPIB/Ascend Learning)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2017/C 167/05)

| 1. | On 18 May 2017, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertakings Blackstone Group L.P. (‘Blackstone’, USA) and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (‘CPPIB’, Canada) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of Ascend Learning Holdings, LLC (‘Ascend Learning’, USA). |
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1.

On 18 May 2017, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertakings Blackstone Group L.P. (‘Blackstone’, USA) and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (‘CPPIB’, Canada) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of Ascend Learning Holdings, LLC (‘Ascend Learning’, USA).

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   for Blackstone: global alternative asset manager headquartered in the United States,
  —   for CPPIB: institutional investor which invests in public and private equities, real estate, infrastructure and fixed income investments headquartered in Canada,
  —   for Ascend Learning: provider of educational content and software tools for students, educational institutions and employers, including admissions testing, educational content, test preparation, professional certifications and continuing education, with a particular focus on healthcare and other licensed professions such as certified personal trainers, financial advisers, skilled trades professionals and insurance brokers. Ascend Learning is headquartered in the United States. |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for Blackstone: global alternative asset manager headquartered in the United States,

for Blackstone

—   for CPPIB: institutional investor which invests in public and private equities, real estate, infrastructure and fixed income investments headquartered in Canada,

for CPPIB

—   for Ascend Learning: provider of educational content and software tools for students, educational institutions and employers, including admissions testing, educational content, test preparation, professional certifications and continuing education, with a particular focus on healthcare and other licensed professions such as certified personal trainers, financial advisers, skilled trades professionals and insurance brokers. Ascend Learning is headquartered in the United States.

for Ascend Learning

| 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 this Notice. |
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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 this Notice.

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| 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. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (+32 22964301), by email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference M.8490 — Blackstone/CPPIB/Ascend Learning, to the following address:





  European Commission |
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| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel |
| BELGIQUE/BELGIË |

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. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (+32 22964301), by email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference M.8490 — Blackstone/CPPIB/Ascend Learning, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

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(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘Merger Regulation’).

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(2)  OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.

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