NOTIFICATION REGARDING THE INTENTION OF HTT INFRACO LIMITED TO ACQUIRE 196 TOWERS OF PLC

PUBLIC NOTICE (Made under Section 65 (2) (g) of the Fair Competition Act No. 8 of 2003 and Rules 41 (6), 42 (5) and 49 of the Competition Rules, 2018)

The Fair Competition Commission (FCC) is an independent statutory body established under section 62 of the Fair Competition Act No. 8 of 2003 (FCA) with the object of enhancing the welfare of the people of Tanzania by promoting and protecting effective competition in markets and preventing unfair and misleading market conduct throughout Tanzania Mainland.

Under the same Act, the FCC has powers to investigate, inter alia, entry into and exit from markets. The FCC has received a merger notification to the effect that HTT Infraco Limited (The Acquiring Firm) intends to acquire 196 telecommunication towers and related assets that are currently owned by Plc (The Target Firm).

The Acquiring Firm is a company incorporated in Tanzania, owned by Helios Towers Tanzania Limited, HT Holdings Tanzania Limited and HS Holdings Limited. The business activities of the Acquiring Firm comprise of acquiring, constructing, owning, leasing, managing, operating and maintaining communication masts, towers, tower sites or building used or to be used for, or which do or will contain telecommunication services in Tanzania. It is also involved in leasing, subleasing, marketing and managing space on such masts, towers, tower sites and buildings to multiple GSM carriers, fixed carriers and other providers of telecommunication services throughout Tanzania.

Viettel Tanzania Plc is a telecommunication company based in Tanzania. It engages in provision of various mobile and fixed telecommunication services. The Target Firm also, owns certain towers and related assets.

Based on the Sale and Purchase Agreement signed by merging parties, the Target Firm agreed to sell towers located in 196 sites across Tanzania.

FCC is currently investigating the intended acquisition in line with the provisions of the Fair Competition Act and the Competition Rules, 2018.

Pursuant to Rule 49 read together with Rule 41(6) of the Competition Rules, 2018, parties, both legal and natural (Petitioners) who deem themselves as having sufficient interest in this merger, or, if the merger is not objected to, it will have or is likely to have a material effect on their interests, are invited to submit their interests, objections or information (Petition). The Petitioners are hereby NOTIFIED to submit their Petitions with a view to assist the Commission in reaching just and reasonable decision with regard to the intended merger.

All such Petitioners, shall NOTIFY the Commission by way of written submissions to the FCC within FOURTEEN (14) days from the first day of publication of this Public Notice. No submission filed after the said deadline shall be accepted.

Submission of the said Petition should be accompanied by a duly filled-in Form FCC.10 (Notice of Intention to Participate found in the First Schedule of the Competition Rules, 2018). Failure to fill-in Form FCC.10 will deny such Petitioner the right to make any oral submissions before the Commission and their status in the proceedings shall be deemed to be that of an observer only.

2 Petitioners should take note that pursuant to Rule 10 (5) of the Competition Rules, 2018 as applied to this Public Notice, the Commission shall not entertain a subject of the petition where: (a) it does not fall under the FCA (b) it has no material effect on competition; and (c) the same in whole or in part is before any court, tribunal, arbitration, judicial or quasi–judicial body.

Submissions must be submitted to the FCC at the address below. Director General, Fair Competition Commission, GEPF House, 2nd Floor, Plot No. 37, Regent Estate, Bagamoyo Road, P. O. Box 7883 Dar es Salaam. Tel: +255 22 2926128/29/30/30; : +255 22 2926126.

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