France Telecom sells Swiss unit to Apax Partners (Europe)
Mobile operator France Telecom will be selling its Swiss unit, Orange Switzerland, to private equity investment group, Apax Partners for an enterprise value of approximately USD 2.1 billion. According to company reports, the transaction will be sent to the Board of Directors of France Telecom for approval during the week commencing on January 9, 2012.
As reported earlier, the operator had decided to sell of its Swiss mobile subsidiary in an attempt to achieve sustained growth in a struggling industry and focus its attention on the emerging markets. The company reportedly claims that upon completion, this transaction will constitute a significant step in the optimization of France Telecom’s assets portfolio announced in May 2011.
France Telecom to receive second round bids for Orange Switzerland (Europe)
France Telecom, a leading telecommunications service provider, is expected to receive the second round bids for its Swiss unit, Orange Switzerland, from five potential buyers. According to reports, some of the shortlisted investors include Providence Equity Partners, Apax Partners and EQT Partners. Sources claim that Naguib Sawiris, founder of Orascom Telecom may also bid for Orange Switzerland along with cable company Liberty Global Inc.
As reported by Wireless Federation earlier, the sale of Orange Switzerland was a strategic decision taken by France Telecom in an attempt to achieve sustained growth in a struggling industry and focus its attention on the emerging markets.As per sources, France Telecom hopes to receive between US$ 1.95 billion and US$ 2.60 from the sale.
The sale being advised by Perella Weinber Partners along with Lazard Ltd. is expected to be finalized in the beginning of 2012, wherein France Telecom will reportedly announce the company chosen to acquire its unit.
Orange Switzerland second round bids expected before year end (Europe)
According to reports, the second round of bids for France telecom’s unit in Switzerland will take place on 12th December. Sources suggest that the bidders shortlisted to submit the second-round bids include Apax Partners, Providence Equity Partners and John Malone’s Liberty Global Inc.
As per sources, Naguib Sawiris, Chairman, Orascom Telecom along with buyout firms such as EQT, Carlyle Group and Bain Capital have also shown an interest in acquiring the swiss unit, but their current involvement in the process is still unclear.
Reports suggest that France Telecom expects to receive between US$ 2.03 billion and $ 2.71 billion for Orange Switzerland. As per sources, Stephane Richard, CEO, Orange Switzerland does not believe that the euro-zone debt crisis would affect the price it could get for the business unit.
As reported earlier, the sale of Orange Switzerland was a strategic decision taken by France Telecom in an attempt to achieve sustained growth in a struggling industry. Sources claim that the company aims to complete the deal by this year end.
Orascom Telecom seeks partners for Orange Switzerland bid (Europe, Egypt)
According to reports, Naguib Sawiris, founder of Orascom Telecom is looking for partners in order to bid for Orange Switzerland valued at around $2.8 billion. Other people who have shown their interest in acquiring the France Telecom SA mobile-phone unit, include Xavier Niel, founder of Iliad, and private equity firms Apax Partners LLP and EQT Partners. As per sources, when questioned about Mobinil, Sawiris said that he has no plans to sell his stake in Mobinil which belongs to Orascom and other shareholders.
As reported by Wireless Federation earlier, France Telecom is hopeful of finalizing a deal for its Switzerland unit by the end of this year and plans to target the emerging markets in the Middle East and Africa. Further, the group may also be looking to sell its units in Austria and Portugal.
France Telecom shortlists bidders for sale of Orange Switzerland
France Telecom, a leading telecommunications operator, has reportedly shortlisted four to five private equity firm from the initial 10 bidders for the second round, in the sale of its Swiss business, Orange Switzerland. As per reports, Lazard Ltd. and Perella Weinberg Partners are responsible for the sale of the business which is expected to get France Telecom between US$ 2.08 billion and $ 2.8 billion.
According to sources, the sale of Orange Switzerland was a strategic decision taken by France Telecom in an attempt to achieve sustained growth in what is considered to be a struggling industry. The group is hopeful to seal a deal by the end of 2011.
ComCom to sell mobile frequencies next year
The Swiss Communications Commission (ComCom) is expecting to raise several hundred million Swiss francs from an auction of frequencies in the first half of 2011.
ComCom has launched the public tender for mobile frequencies in the 800MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz, 2100MHz and 2600MHz ranges. Some frequencies are available for use immediately, while others are part of the existing GSM and UMTS licenses of Swisscom, Sunrise, Orange Switzerland and In&Phone, and will become free on 31 December 2013 and 31 December 2016, respectively.
According to ComCom, the frequencies will be auctioned, with interested parties having until 18 March 2011 to register their interest. Each registration is expected to include the maximum amount of spectrum an applicant wishes to purchase within the individual bands, as well as a bank guarantee in the amount of the minimum bid for the frequencies they are applying for.
Altogether there are 61 frequencies blocks in the auction, which if all sold will raise a minimum of US$597 million.
The new licenses will be valid until 2028 and will be awarded on a technology-neutral basis. The auction format is designed so that both the number of licenses and the available bandwidth are not predetermined by ComCom. The auction will be conducted using an electronic auction system which allows secure bidding over.
Orange Switzerland launches PC Games
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Orange PC Games, a PC games download service has been launched by Orange Switzerland. More than 250 games are included in the offer, available on www.orange.ch/pcgames.
Play Pack consists of recreational, educational and entertainment games are available in the offer for CHF 15 per month. Graphically and technically more advanced games are available in Action pack. Installation of the pack also requires some special configurations on the PC for CHF 15 per month. Ultimate Pack consists of all games available from the entire games catalogue on the Orange PC Games platform and costs CHF 29 per monthly.
Unlimited access to the games included in the package is offered by all packages and all downloadable games consist of the full version in German and French.
France Telecom & TDC launch appeal against merger prohibition
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: An appeal has been launched by Orange Switzerland and TDC subsidiary Sunrise at federal administrative court against the decision of the Swiss cartel office Weko to prohibit the merger between the two operators.
Parents of both the operators namely France Telecom and TDC will be enabled to keep all options open because of the appeal. New request to Weko to approve the merger under certain conditions is also included in the options as both companies still believe in the merger. This is another possibility which is going directly to the Federal Council, bypassing Weko, to ask for approval of the merger.
But according to Sunrise spokeswoman Natasja Sommer, this is an unlikely option.
Orange Switzerland & MVNE sign MVNE deal
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: MVNE Transatel has been selected by Orange Switzerland to launch new MNVOs on its mobile network. Transatel is already supporting more than 50 MVNOs in France, Belgium and the UK.
All interested businesses, traders and service providers will be enabled by Orange and Transatel to launch their own services on the Swiss telecoms market with almost no upfront investment and in very short time. Transatel will work as a virtual network aggregator ensuring full access to the Orange network and Orange mobile phone services.
Through Transatel, MVNE would be able to connect up to 20 MVNO providers per year on the Orange network
Swisscom, Orange, sunrise to start DVB-H trial
From 1 November until the end of January 2007 some 200 people in the city of Berne will be testing mobile TV via DVB-H technology. Swisscom Broadcast is conducting the trial in conjunction with Swisscom Mobile, sunrise and Orange Switzerland to see whether DVB-H adequately meets the public’s needs with regard to mobile radio and television. Swisscom Broadcast tested the technical functions of DVB-H as early as 2005. In cooperation with Swisscom Mobile, sunrise and Orange, the company subsequently developed special DVB-H-based radio and TV offerings. During the trial, the participants will have a Nokia N92 mobile phone at their disposal on which up to 17 TV channels and three to four radio channels can be received depending on the mobile operator. An electronic programme guide will help them make their choices.
Source- http://www.telecompaper.com
