Altice SFR France - comment
With the start of the new year, speculation has once again intensified around potential asset disposals by Patrick Drahi. Recent reports suggest that Altice France is seeking bids for its fixed and mobile network infrastructure, including its fibre network (NetCo). This appears to be an effort to stimulate competitive tension and prompt the Orange/Bouygues/Free consortium to revisit its previously unsuccessful €17bn bid for the group.
In this context, a Le Monde article reporting that Altice France has received five indicative proposals for SFR Business, one reportedly at €1.2bn from Altitude Infra and four others valuing the business between €1.85bn and €2.3bn, can be viewed as a further attempt to encourage the consortium to improve its prior offer.
Separately, the Financial Times reports that Drahi is also exploring the sale of his 50% stake in the German broadband joint venture owned alongside Vodafone.