BT Deals & M&A – Page 4
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M&ACityFibre eyes fresh cash injection
Press reports suggest Openreach challenger will announce fresh funds through stake sale and bond issue.
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M&AHöttges “ready” for Drahi tête-à-tête after BT raid
DT confirms Altice’s secretive acquisition of a large BT holding went unflagged. Group “open” to discussions and sees prospect of “exciting” developments towards end of 2021. DT accentuates lack of pressure to sell up, should Altice target its holding.
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M&ADT interest Community Fibre subsumes rival
FTTP altnet backed by BT shareholder absorbs assets of smaller fibre builder. Business now looking “beyond London” as it continues to accelerate growth. Community Fibre’s FTTP footprint stands at 300,000 premises. Acquisition not impacting commercial operations or leadership structure of “independent” merger partner.
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M&ADrahi cites Brexit for BT swoop
Co-founder of Altice telecoms group pays UK government ministers a visit about newly acquired 12.1% BT stake. Claims Brexit and relatively low FTTP rollout makes UK ripe for investment. Some in BT reportedly think overtures to government might be part of a grand takeover plan.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Openreach: fibre rollout crosses Forth Road Bridge
Altice impact on Openreach future yet to be seen; full-fibre rollout crosses the Forth Road Bridge.
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M&AMurdoch’s News UK steps away from BT Sport talks
News UK has pulled back from talks with BT regarding a partnership for the sports broadcasting business. Discovery and ITV said to remain in contention, with DAZN seemingly the keenest of the bunch.
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PremiumBT pays hefty price for full possession of OnePhone
Swedish business’s 30% holding given a near-nine-figure price tag. Purchase coincides with OnePhone champion taking helm at new Enterprise unit.
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PremiumElsewhere in BT Group: VM-O2 challenge emerges
Virgin Media O2 challenge gets real; Dundee offices set to take 1,000 staff; government-backed broadband schemes under the spotlight.
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PremiumAGCM initiates probe into BT Italia divestment
Italy’s competition watchdog examining ins and outs of BT’s deal with TIM. Concern from competitors as TIM seeks to consolidate market position. BT to retain a presence in the country whatever the outcome.
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M&ABT’s uninvited new co-pilot: what’s Drahi’s mission?
Altice buys minority stake but claims no intention of full-fledged takeover. Seeks to support BT’s strategic fibre, for which Drahi has genuine zeal. BTwatch explores industrial logic and financial machinations behind move.
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ProfileWhich Drahi has BT got itself entangled with?
Altice empire expands into UK. Drahi: a fibre visionary or ruthless financer? Does BT investment represent change of tack by rapacious wheeler-dealer?
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M&ABT quietly divests Boingo Wireless interest
Telco offloads small minority stake in Boingo. US wireless internet service provider recently subsumed by Digital Colony.
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PremiumElsewhere in BT Group: O2-VM gets provisional nod
BT remains neutral as CMA clears Virgin Media–O2 deal.
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M&ABT absorbs Local Business agent Fourfront
Reseller relationship brought in-house in small transaction. BT says no shift in strategy for SME go-to-market.
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M&ABT to take full OnePhone ownership
Swedish technology partners to be bought out after nine years, bringing the mobile PBX proposition fully under BT umbrella. OnePhone previously flagged as a quiet success of Enterprise portfolio, and now seemingly turning a profit.
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M&ABT Cornwall quietly put into liquidation
Business blighted by falling-out between BT and its local public sector partners to be wound up. Another marker of troubled public-private partnership approach to council contracts confined to past.
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M&ABT retreats in Italy as court date looms
TIM snaffles SME and public sector accounts business, but BT maintaining a presence for large enterprises as well as multinationals. Taint of accounting scandal lingers, with former Global executives set for trial in 2021.
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PremiumElsewhere in BT Group: Cisco takes IMImobile
Partners Cisco and IMImobile to meld customer comms solutions.
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Strategy & ChangeJansen floats potential for Openreach stake sale
“Open-minded” Jansen may see an Openreach stake sale as a way to relieve pressure on investor demands for a quicker transformation. While CEO’s tone more positive on an asset sale, the challenges of extricating elements of the Group for a sell-off may limit options.
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M&ABT Global wraps up French exit
French infrastructure business bought by IT group said to generate in region of £100m in annual revenue. BT keen to highlight it will maintain a presence in France, with 60 major customers active on the country.