M/24/018 – Phoenix/Cellnex

Transaction details

The proposed acquisition by Phoenix Tower International Holdco, through its wholly-owned subsidiary JorMadheary Holdco 39 Limited, of the entire issued share capital, and thus sole control, of Cellnex Ireland Limited and Cignal Infrastructure Limited (together “Cellnex”), has been notified to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.

Notification date	Decision date
Thursday March 21, 2024

Parties Involved	Business activities
Phoenix Tower International Holdco	Phoenix Tower International Holdco is a subsidiary of Phoenix Tower US Holdings L.P, which is the holding company for the PTI group. The PTI group is a privately-owned wireless infrastructure group, which currently owns a portfolio of approximately 25,000 wireless infrastructure sites operating across Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and the United States. The PTI group is solely controlled by funds and/or investment vehicles managed and/or advised by affiliates of Blackstone Inc. Phoenix Tower International Holdco entered the Irish passive infrastructure sector in 2020, following its acquisition of Emerald Tower Limited, the passive infrastructure portfolio of Eircom Limited. Phoenix Tower International Holdco's portfolio in the State currently consists of several macro sites (comprising tower sites and rooftop locations). Phoenix Tower International Holdco's network in Ireland is used to provide the physical infrastructure necessary for wireless network operators to provide communications services. Phoenix Tower International Holdco's infrastructure is used for both radio coverage and transmission backhaul by customers including fixed network operators, wireless broadband network operators and emergency services.
Cellnex	Cellnex owns Cellnex Ireland Limited and Cignal Infrastructure Limited. Together, Cellnex Ireland Limited and Cignal Infrastructure Limited comprise the wireless infrastructure business of Cellnex Telecom S.A. in the State. Cellnex Telecom S.A. entered the Irish passive infrastructure sector in 2019, following its acquisition of Cignal Infrastructure Limited from InfraVia Capital Partners. In 2021, Cellnex Telecom S.A. completed the acquisition of an additional 1,150 macro sites in the State from CK Hutchison (owner of the Three network), as part of a major international transaction covering a number of jurisdictions, including the State. Cellnex operates a nationwide portfolio of 1,720 macro sites containing passive infrastructure and 173 real estate-only sites. Cellnex leases space on its infrastructure to communications providers to place their active network equipment. Cellnex's sites are also used to provide the physical infrastructure necessary for wireless network operators to provide communications services, and for radio coverage and transmission backhaul by customers including fixed network operators, wireless broadband network operators and emergency services.

Parties Involved

Business activities

Phoenix Tower International Holdco

Phoenix Tower International Holdco is a subsidiary of Phoenix Tower US Holdings L.P, which is the holding company for the PTI group. The PTI group is a privately-owned wireless infrastructure group, which currently owns a portfolio of approximately 25,000 wireless infrastructure sites operating across Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and the United States. The PTI group is solely controlled by funds and/or investment vehicles managed and/or advised by affiliates of Blackstone Inc.

Phoenix Tower International Holdco entered the Irish passive infrastructure sector in 2020, following its acquisition of Emerald Tower Limited, the passive infrastructure portfolio of Eircom Limited.

Phoenix Tower International Holdco's portfolio in the State currently consists of several macro sites (comprising tower sites and rooftop locations). Phoenix Tower International Holdco's network in Ireland is used to provide the physical infrastructure necessary for wireless network operators to provide communications services. Phoenix Tower International Holdco's infrastructure is used for both radio coverage and transmission backhaul by customers including fixed network operators, wireless broadband network operators and emergency services.

Cellnex

Cellnex owns Cellnex Ireland Limited and Cignal Infrastructure Limited. Together, Cellnex Ireland Limited and Cignal Infrastructure Limited comprise the wireless infrastructure business of Cellnex Telecom S.A. in the State.

Cellnex Telecom S.A. entered the Irish passive infrastructure sector in 2019, following its acquisition of Cignal Infrastructure Limited from InfraVia Capital Partners. In 2021, Cellnex Telecom S.A. completed the acquisition of an additional 1,150 macro sites in the State from CK Hutchison (owner of the Three network), as part of a major international transaction covering a number of jurisdictions, including the State.

Cellnex operates a nationwide portfolio of 1,720 macro sites containing passive infrastructure and 173 real estate-only sites. Cellnex leases space on its infrastructure to communications providers to place their active network equipment. Cellnex's sites are also used to provide the physical infrastructure necessary for wireless network operators to provide communications services, and for radio coverage and transmission backhaul by customers including fixed network operators, wireless broadband network operators and emergency services.

Economic sector	Media merger
Information & Communications	No

Submissions from third parties due by:
Phase 1	Phase 2
Monday, April 8, 2024

Current status: Active
Preliminary investigation (Phase 1)

Authorised Officer Assigned	Contact Details
David Sheahan	davidsheahan@ccpc.ie

Media enquiries: communications@ccpc.ie

Return to Merger Notifications

M/24/018 – Phoenix/Cellnex

Transaction details

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