Dutch regulator requests final decision on Ziggo deal
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Dutch regulator requests final decision on Ziggo deal

The ACM, the Dutch consumer and markets regulator, has requested that it, rather than the European Commission (EC), should decide on the outcome of Liberty Global’s acquisition of cable operator Ziggo.

Liberty Global agreed to acquire Ziggo for €10 billion in January this year, but late yesterday the ACM made a request to the EC that it casts the deciding vote, as the deal is expected to have the largest impact in the Netherlands.

Antoine Colombani, EC spokesperson for competition policy, said that the deadline for the Ziggo deal review has been extended to May 8 following the ACM’s request.

“We will carefully examine it,” Colombani said.

Market watchers expect the EC to reject the Dutch regulator’s request, in a bid to maintain a level of consistency on telecoms mergers.

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