UPC parent Liberty closes door on deal with Sunrise
A merger between Sunrise and UPC Switzerland is now completely off the table for UPC's parent company, Liberty Global. The company announced late Monday night that talks on the matter had been concluded.

When the deal fell through a few weeks ago, Liberty had left itself a loophole (Werbewoche.ch reported). "We look forward to continuing our discussions with the Sunrise Board of Directors or Sunrise major shareholder Freenet about a potential transaction," Liberty CEO Mike Fries had said at the time.
Now the door will be closed, according to a statement on Tuesday. The reason given is that the Sunrise board of directors and major shareholder Freenet could not reach an agreement.
UPC is now focusing on its turnaround plan, it said. "And we are, of course, exploring other strategic options in the market," the statement said.
In this context, the industrial logic of "convergence" from mobile and fixed network infrastructure is undisputed, it is emphasized. As is well known, there is only one mobile communications provider left on the Swiss telecommunications market in addition to Sunrise and Swisscom: Salt. (SDA)
Sunrise and UPC - Chronicle of a failed deal:
- 27.2.2019Sunrise acquires UPC Switzerland for CHF 6.3 billion
- 3.6.2019WEKO examines the merger of Sunrise and UPC in more detail
- 3.7.2019: Deal worth billions: Sunrise major shareholder votes against takeover of UPC
- 17.8.2019The UPC purchase by Sunrise is suddenly on shaky ground
- 23.8.2019: Freenet CEO Vilanek: "The market does not want the UPC takeover".
- 4.9.2019Sunrise promotes merger with UPC to customers
- 22.9.2019: Suddenly things are looking good again for the UPC takeover by Sunrise
- 26.9.2019Weko approves the UPC takeover
- 29.9.2019: Freenet keeps Sunrise shares in any case
- 18.10.2019Showdown at Sunrise AGM over billion-euro purchase of UPC
- 20.10.2019Sunrise suspects Freenet and considers complaint
- 22.10.2019Sunrise cancels extraordinary general meeting on UPC acquisition
- 27.10.2019: Is the UPC deal not off the table for Sunrise after all?
- 31.10.2019: Swisscom sees no less competition after UPC-Sunrise exit
- 10.11.2019: Rumors that the UPC deal could work out after all are increasing
- 11/13/2019: Sunrise buries UPC deal - UPC parent keeps back door open
