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EU: Deep probe into $1.4 billion Liberty Global-BASE deal officially opened

By  |  October 7, 2015

The anti-trust regulatory body, European Union Competition Commission recently launched an in-depth investigation under the EU Merger Regulation to assess whether the proposed acquisition of the Belgian telecom operator BASE N.V. by European cable TV behemoth Liberty Global will harm the competitive landscape of the Belgian wireless market.

Plans to acquire the third-largest mobile operator in Belgium from KPN at a cost of €1.35 billion were announced in April.

The Commission is concerned the acquisition would lead to a reduction in competition in the Belgian market.

Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, commented: “Consumers increasingly depend on reliable and competitive telecoms services to keep in touch and to access information. We want to make sure that consumers in Belgium do not suffer higher prices and less choice as a result of this proposed takeover”.

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