Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.8736 — Toohil Telecom/Eircom) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance. )
Date: 2018-01-16
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: economic concentration, investment company, merger control, telecommunications, telecommunications industry








C_2018014EN.01001101.xml










16.1.2018   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 14/11





Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.8736 — Toohil Telecom/Eircom)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2018/C 14/09)






1.


On 8 January 2018, 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:






—


Toohil Telecom Holdings Limited (‘Toohil Telecom’, Ireland), ultimately controlled by Mr Xavier Niel (France), and










—


Eircom Holdco S.A. (‘Eircom’, Luxembourg).




Toohil Telecom acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of Eircom.
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.










2.


The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
—   for Toohil Telecom: part of the group of companies controlled by Mr Xavier Niel which are mainly focused on investments in the following sectors: telecoms, media, technologies, start-ups businesses and real estate. In particular, Mr Xavier Niel controls Iliad, a French company active in the provision of fixed and mobile telephony and internet access providing and hosting services.
—   for Eircom: Eircom offers a range of fixed voice, data, high speed broadis point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Counciband, mobile, and TV services, as well as Voice over Internet Protocol and Wi-Fi services to the individual consumers, households, business users, wholesale customers, small and medium enterprises, and government in the Republic of Ireland. It also offers a range of connectivity services to the public sector customers in Northern Ireland, as well as to Irish companies with subsidiaries or branches in the United Kingdom.










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 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.8736 — Toohil Telecom/Eircom
Observations can be sent to the Commission by email, by fax, or by post. Please use the contact details below:





E-mail:




COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu




Fax:




+32 22964301




Postal address:




European Commission




Directorate-General for Competition




Merger Registry




1049 Bruxelles/Brussel




BELGIQUE/BELGIË










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

(2)  OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.