For billionaire Patrick Drahi’s Altice, a takeover may be the answer to the problems that have plagued the company in recent months, including disenchanted investors, an exodus of customers and a debt load of about 31 billion euros ($38 billion). Drahi has shuffled management, halted acquisitions, and committed to asset sales including the spin off its U.S. unit.
French regulators are likely to demand remedies to maintain consumer-friendly competition in the media and telecom industries in exchange for approving a potential deal, which could see the top telecom firm Orange and smaller challenger Iliad pick up some of SFR’s assets. A combination could also enable the companies to generate significant cost savings from overlaps in administration, personnel and infrastructure.
(Bron: Bloomberg)