France: Orange CEO sees 50-50 chance of clinching Bouygues deal

Orange has a 50-50 chance of completing a Bouygues Telecom acquisition, according to Orange chairman and CEO Stephane Richard, speaking at the company’s traditional new year event. Les Echos writes that Richard also said that Martin Bouygues initiated the latest round of talks after Orange first approached him in 2014. At the time Bouygues considered a tie-up for a month and a half before deciding against it.

The CEO added, “There is no discussion about TF1. Bouygues and Orange have entered into a thorough examination of the operation.” For now it is hard to say whether French or EU regulators will decide on the case, but it is likely to be the French competition authority, he added.

Richard also said that prices would not change dramatically in an environment with three rather than four operators, adding, “The price decrease provoked by the arrival of Free in mobile is irreversible”. He also said that Bouygues fulfils the right conditions to become a strategic shareholder in Orange.

Full content: The Wall Street Journal

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