Orange and Sunrise merge
France Télécom and TDC are merging their Swiss subsidiaries, Orange and Sunrise. France Télécom plans to pay 1.5 billion euros for a 75 percent majority stake in the new company. The remaining 25 percent will go to the Danish company TDC, Sunrise's parent company.
The Board of Directors of the new company will consist of representatives of TDC and France Télécom, with France Télécom holding the majority of seats. Thomas Sieber is to become Managing Director of the new company. Christoph Brand will remain CEO of Sunrise until the transaction is completed. He will then oversee the start of the integration project before moving on to new professional responsibilities outside the Group. The new company will be a strong player on the Swiss telecommunications market: together, the new company, whose name has not yet been announced, will have 3.4 million mobile customers and 1.1 million fixed network and Internet customers. This will result in market shares of 38% (mobile telephony) and 13% (broadband connections).
Bakom is waiting for input from Orange and Sunrise
The Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) is expecting a submission from Orange and Sunrise on the planned merger in the next few days. "We need a presentation of the new situation from both companies," said Bakom spokesperson Roberto Rivola on Wednesday at the request of SDA. "We do not know whether Sunrise will relinquish its license or whether Sunrise will be taken over. We don't have the details," Rivola continued. As soon as OFCOM has received the submission, an analysis will be made of what the new situation means for the competition on the telecommunications market and whether the merger can be approved. OFCOM will also involve the Competition Commission in the analysis.
According to SDA, the same applies at Comcom: In the event of a merger, the partners would have to submit an application to take over the license or cancel the license that is no longer in use, said ComCom Secretary Peter Bär on request. Comcom and Bakom could also impose special conditions for the granting of licenses, said Bär. Within the framework of the legislation, the Commission ensures that competition and security for customers are maintained.
There is no deadline by which the submission must be made, said Rivola. In order for the merger partners to keep to their own timetable, the submission must be made in the next few days. Bakom will analyze the submission, but the decision will be made by Comcom, which is also in charge.
Bakom is waiting for input from Orange and Sunrise
The Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) is expecting a submission from Orange and Sunrise on the planned merger in the next few days. "We need a presentation of the new situation from both companies," said Bakom spokesperson Roberto Rivola on Wednesday at the request of SDA. "We do not know whether Sunrise will relinquish its license or whether Sunrise will be taken over. We don't have the details," Rivola continued. As soon as OFCOM has received the submission, an analysis will be made of what the new situation means for the competition on the telecommunications market and whether the merger can be approved. OFCOM will also involve the Competition Commission in the analysis.
According to SDA, the same applies at Comcom: In the event of a merger, the partners would have to submit an application to take over the license or cancel the license that is no longer in use, said ComCom Secretary Peter Bär on request. Comcom and Bakom could also impose special conditions for the granting of licenses, said Bär. Within the framework of the legislation, the Commission ensures that competition and security for customers are maintained.
There is no deadline by which the submission must be made, said Rivola. In order for the merger partners to keep to their own timetable, the submission must be made in the next few days. Bakom will analyze the submission, but the decision will be made by Comcom, which is also in charge.
(Image: Keystone)
