# C_2017172EN.01000301.xml

| 31.5.2017 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 172/3 |
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31.5.2017

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 172/3

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.8475 — SoftBank Group/Fortress Investment Group)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2017/C 172/03)

| 1. | On 19 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 undertaking SoftBank Group Corp. (‘SoftBank’, Japan) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of Fortress Investment Group LLC (‘Fortress’, USA) by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 19 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 undertaking SoftBank Group Corp. (‘SoftBank’, Japan) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of Fortress Investment Group LLC (‘Fortress’, USA) by way of purchase of shares.

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   SoftBank: listed Japanese internet company which provides a comprehensive range of telecommunication services and products, primarily in Japan and the USA. It currently operates in five segments: Japanese Telecommunications; Sprint Corporation (a US telecommunications carrier); Yahoo Japan (internet advertising, e-commerce and membership services); Distribution (mobile devices, and sale of PC software and peripherals in Japan); and ARM (a UK-based semiconductor company).
  —   Fortress: investment management firm based in New York, USA. |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   SoftBank: listed Japanese internet company which provides a comprehensive range of telecommunication services and products, primarily in Japan and the USA. It currently operates in five segments: Japanese Telecommunications; Sprint Corporation (a US telecommunications carrier); Yahoo Japan (internet advertising, e-commerce and membership services); Distribution (mobile devices, and sale of PC software and peripherals in Japan); and ARM (a UK-based semiconductor company).

SoftBank

—   Fortress: investment management firm based in New York, USA.

Fortress

| 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.8475 — SoftBank Group/Fortress Investment Group, 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.8475 — SoftBank Group/Fortress Investment Group, 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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