Orange to focus on French consolidation after EE sale?
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Orange to focus on French consolidation after EE sale?

Stephane Richard, CEO at Orange, has said that the company may look again at consolidation in the French market once it has completed the sale of EE to British incumbent BT, Reuters reports.




BT agreed to acquire mobile player EE from the French operator in December last year, and during a New Year’s presentation to the press today, Richard said that Orange hopes to close this deal quickly. 


If it materialises, the deal with BT is expected to provide more financial flexibility for Orange to “seize opportunities”, Richard said, citing potential consolidation in France.


Orange withdrew from a planned French telecoms merger in July 2014, on grounds that a number of its conditions had not been met.


Richard also discussed Orange’s planned acquisition of Jazztel for £2.7 billion, which is under review by EU anti-trust regulators. “We hope to complete this acquisition in the spring,” he said.  


Orange will present its next strategic plan for 2020 on March 17 2015, Richard added. 



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