European cable group Altice, which controls France’s Numericable and is set to complete its majority acquisition of French mobile and broadband operator SFR from Vivendi, sees itself as “the most interested buyer” of the country’s third-biggest mobile operator, Bouygues Telecom, the Financial Times reports. Altice CEO Dexter Goei said at a Morgan Stanley press conference in Barcelona, “We view ourselves as the most natural buyer. If we get a call from Bouygues then why not? I would be surprised if there was not some effort in 2015 to get something done.”
Altice’s takeover EUR 17 billion takeover of Numericable still leaves four mobile operators in France, and market consolidation to three operators could help curtail the ongoing price war that has led operators to cut costs. Bouygues left open the possibility of consolidation, saying that while it is following a standalone policy it remains attentive to the market’s evolution and to any potential opportunity.
At the same conference, Orange CEO Stephane Richard said he saw a “medium to long-term need for consolidation,” but said his company was not likely to be the front player in any transaction. If there is a deal put forward in which it can take part, Orange would “contribute positively” he said.
