Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.12292 – AENA / DIGITALBRIDGE / JV) – Candidate case for simplified procedure
Date: 2026-01-29
Institutions: Directorate-General for Competition, European Commission
Subjects: North East (England), Spain, Yorkshire and The Humber, airport, digital infrastructure supply, economic concentration, investment company, merger control








C_202600703EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2026/703


29.1.2026






Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.12292 – AENA / DIGITALBRIDGE / JV)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(C/2026/703)


1.   
On 14 January 2026, 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:






—


Aena Desarollo Internacional SME, SA (‘Aena’, Spain), controlled by Aena SME, SA (Spain),










—


DigitalBridge Group Inc. (‘DigitalBridge’, USA), (‘DigitalBridge’, USA),










—


NIAL Group Limited (‘NCL Topco’, UK), jointly controlled by DigitalBridge and Newcastle Airport Local Authority Holding Company Limited (‘LA NCL Topco’, UK), and










—


Leeds Bradford International Airport Limited (‘LBA Topco’, UK), solely controlled by DigitalBridge.




Aena will acquire, through Augusta HoldCo Limited, sole control of LBA Topco, and joint control of NCL Topco together with DigitalBridge and LA NCL Topco, within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation.
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares and by way of contract or any other means.


2.   
The business activities of the undertakings concerned are the following:






—


Aena is a Spanish manager of airport operators, including international airports outside of Spain,










—


DigitalBridge is a digital infrastructure investment firm that invests across 45 portfolio companies worldwide. Its investment focus spans digital infrastructure—including data centers, fiber networks, towers, and related connectivity assets—as well as transportation, clean mobility, and energy-transition infrastructure,










—


NCL Topco manages Newcastle International Airport,










—


LBA Topco manages Leeds Bradford Airport.






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 treatment for certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 on the control of concentrations between undertakings (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 concentration 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.12292 – AENA / DIGITALBRIDGE / JV
Observations can be sent to the Commission by email or by post. Please use the contact details below:
Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu

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 160, 5.5.2023, p. 1.


ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2026/703/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)