Talks between antitrust regulators and companies are progressing regarding the proposed sale of Orange Austria, TelecomFinance was told. A filing with the authorities could come at the end of the month, according to a person close to the discussions….
Talks between antitrust regulators and companies are progressing regarding the proposed sale of Orange Austria, TelecomFinance was told. A filing with the authorities could come at the end of the month, according to a person close to the discussions. Clearance could therefore come in summer.
The transaction requires clearance from the European Commission (EC) as well as from the Austrian competition authority, the BWB. While the EC will investigate the main part of the deal, the sale of Orange Austria to Hutchison, the BWB will focus on the smaller part involving the sale of a number of Orange Austria assets to Telekom Austria.
As reported previously representatives of all sides, including the EC, the BWB, Austrian telecoms regulator RTR, Orange, Hutchison and Telekom Austria, met in late February to discuss the best approach for the merger control procedures.
EC and BWB closely co-ordinate their investigations.
The pre-notification talks have meanwhile progressed to the extent that a likely timing has now come to light.
According to the person close to the talks, it is now expected that formal filings with both antitrust regulators will be made around late March. EC as well as BWB then have about one month for a first phase decision on the different parts of the transactions.
While the BWB still thinks that a clearance at the end of phase I is rather unlikely, it is understood that the transaction might still receive clearance during summer.
Officially the BWB has up to five months to investigate a transaction once the second phase of a review has been launched, while the EC has 90 working days. Both regulators can, however, close procedures earlier if their investigations come to a conclusion.
