The Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU) returned the application to French NJJ Capital for the acquisition of the mobile operator lifecell (Lifecell LLC) and the cell tower operator Ukrtower LLC, Forbes reported on Friday, citing the department's response to the relevant request.

At the same time, it is clarified that applications for the acquisition of shares in Lifecell LLC and Ukrtower LLC were returned on January 12 due to the documents not meeting the department's requirements.

"The materials attached to the applications did not contain comprehensive information necessary for their consideration by the committee," the message states.

The AMCU received an application from NJJ Capital for permission for the indirect acquisition of more than 50% in the charter capital of Lifecell LLC and Ukrtower LLC on December 29, 2023.

NJJ Capital is owned by French billionaire Xavier Niel, the founder of the French telecommunications group Iliad (the parent company of one of the country's largest Internet providers - Free), whose fortune Bloomberg estimates at $6.08 billion.