Background is the planned merger of the two mobile brands "Wind" and "3 Italia", which are Vimpelcom and Hutchison Holdings owned by the two companies. In recent weeks Iliad and Fastweb had been mentioned in various media reports as potential buyers of mobile assets of the seller, provided that such a sale would need to antitrust requirements. Specifically this involves frequencies and antennas.
On Tuesday evening, the Iliad Group had announced he was ready to enter the market in Italy. The day before the speech was in media reports of "exclusive negotiations" between Iliad and Vimpelcom / Hutchison Holdings have been.
From Swisscom had recently commanded that Fastweb for all options would be open, as the market is located in upheaval. Swisscom CEO Urs Schaeppi had declared in the last week compared to the "Finanz und Wirtschaft" that he met for the proposed merger of "Wind" and "3 Italia" look up. However, it is too early for a decision. Today Fastweb is focused in Italy on broadband services.
SWISSCOM NOSE FRONT
The Deutsche Bank experts see Swisscom "with a probability of 55%" can be seen still as a possible buyer of mobile assets, such as a study on Tuesday as favorites. The subsidiary Fastweb dispose about a brand in Italy as well as shops and employees while Iliad takes all start from scratch, it is stated as one justification.
However, the analyst could abgewinnen also a solution much, would be involved in the Swisscom / Fastweb and Iliad. For such would, according to the study benefits for both sides.
So Iliad would apply in a joining of forces to benefit from one of the best broadband deals in the Italian market, which could be combined with the mobile. Moreover remained free agents that could be used for any changes in the market in France.
ADVANTAGE ON THE HOME MARKET
Swisscom on the other side would get for Cooperation in Italy no new dangerous competitor in the broadband area. Because according to the German bank analysts Iliad would probably buy after winning mobile activities and broadband services - creating a new competitor would arise.
Close ties to Iliad could, according to experts on the domestic market will be useful: For Iliad is known owner of the Swiss mobile operator Salt and could thus probably somewhat bite impediment. An advantage would be a deal with Iliad in Italy also because in this way the funding without IPO Fastweb is possible and the amount of dividend is safer than in a sole procedure.
Should nevertheless Iliad come to train, it keep the analyst's possible that Swisscom considering a sale of Fastweb.
Located on the Swiss stock exchange, the Swisscom shares (-0.8%) record at 11 am as part of the overall market (SMI: -0.9%).