Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9529 — BC Partners/Vista Equity Partners/Advanced Computer Software Group) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance.)
Date: 2019-09-11
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: consultancy, economic concentration, information technology industry, investment company, merger control








C_2019307EN.01000501.xml










11.9.2019   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 307/5






Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.9529 — BC Partners/Vista Equity Partners/Advanced Computer Software Group)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2019/C 307/05)

1.   
On 3 September 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:






—


BC Partners LLP (‘BC Partners’, United Kingdom), which advises BC European Capital X acting through its general partner BCEC Management X Limited,










—


Vista Equity Partners Management LLC (‘Vista Equity Partners’, United States), which manages Vista Equity Partners Fund VII L.P.,










—


Advanced Computer Software Group Ltd (‘Advanced’, United Kingdom).




Funds advised by BC Partners LLP and funds managed by Vista Equity Partners Management acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of Advanced. Advanced is currently a solely controlled portfolio company of Vista Equity Partners.
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.


2.   
The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
—   for BC Partners: private equity firm providing investment management advice to financial investors,
—   for Vista Equity Partners: investment firm focused on software, data and technology-enabled businesses,
—   for Advanced: a provider of software (including modernisation solutions) and cloud and managed IT services to public and private sector clients.


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.9529 — BC Partners/Vista Equity Partners/Advanced Computer Software Group
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







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

(2)  OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.