Orange Wins Conditional EU Nod for $20 Billion Masmovil Deal
- EU says deal could have led to 10% increase in prices
- Remedies include spectrum sale, roaming agreement with Digi
Orange SA headquarters in Paris.
Photographer: Nathan Laine/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Orange SA’s Spanish unit and Masmovil Ibercom SA won conditional approval from the European Union for a plan to create Spain’s biggest mobile operator, in a decision that could embolden dealmaking in the industry.
The European Commission said the duo’s agreement to sell spectrum licenses to rival Digi Communications NV as well as an offer on wholesale roaming allayed competition concerns over the deal, which reduces the number of players in the market from four to three — often a red line for regulators.