Green light for the sale of SFR. With the decision, on August 4, of the Court of Economic Activities of Paris to approve the accelerated safeguarding plan of Altice France, and this, without any condition, providing parquet requests, the road is now free for Patrick Drahi, majority shareholder of the group. The Franco-Israelí billionaire will be able to mop with his debt with the resale of the resale of his telecommunications operator.
If the group’s management, which was held until the summer of 2024 RMC and BFMTV, explains that this is not its intention, the rumors are third: according to the information of BFM Business, SFR is subject to “many lusts.” “A presentation file has been circulating for months in financial circles,” says Echoes.
A resale for more than 25 billion euros
While Allice France is very indebted, from 24.1 billion euros to the last count, a resale of SFR could bring more than 25 billion euros, according to BFM Business’s information. A historical amount, such as what could happen if the news was confirmed.
For the first time since 2011, France would return to three national operators (excluding virtual operators). When Free had embarked on the race in January 2012, the effects had been felt: Iliad, who owns the uprising of Télérs, had broken prices. Good news for consumers, less good for Orange, Bouygues and SFR who had to cut their margins to align and keep certain customers tempted to go to see another place.
The prices war, with many promotions, maintains the prices of packages and offers at relatively low levels. But if SFR is no longer in the race “that makes more customers and, therefore, more money”, breathes in Tech & Co, a source inside an operator.
With a less operator, the risk is, therefore, to see the prices jump, also see much less explosive promotions. SFR had made a specialty to recover his customers on his mobile. If he leaves the scene, it will be necessary to do without.
Consumers, great forgotten
But if the question of a resale occupies all financial circles and the world of telecommunications, the great forgotten remain the SFR clients. This is what Marie Amandine Stévenin, president of UFC who will choose: “When he is healthy, competition allows him to improve offers and prices. Going from four to three operators is not necessarily bad news, what matters is that there is a healthy competition.”
The other great risk comes from the transfer of subscriptions. Especially if each of the other three operators offers a part of SFR’s customers, could be launched towards a less advantageous offer.
A little data discussed, and for a good reason: the client has, in case of a consecutive offer for the purchase, the right to leave even if it remains compromised, at no cost. “There is no risk of breakdown in the service (subscribers will maintain a mobile and internet network without cutting, editor’s note). But the operator will buy customers increase their prices, this immediately opens correctly, regardless of the type of contract, to a possible termination,” says Amandine Stévenin.
“These are the customers who give life to SFR”
In this cloud of rumors that surround a possible sale of Altice France assets, the UFC -quy Choisir also regrets the lack of clarity against consumers: “If the resale leads to a modification of the contract or service, they must be warned, and for all the modifications of the essence of the contract, this opens the right to a unilateral termination, even in the event of a commitment.”
The Consumer Defense Association recalls that even if they are essentially financial discussions in the SFR file, “it must think of customers who give life to the business.”
The memories of the refunds of Nine of SFR or Alice de Free, which had ended up seeing that the attractive prices of these two ancient Internet operators will be eliminated during the months or even light increases, they still pursued all the minds.
The Government has recalled to be “attentive” in front of the employees and customers of the SFR operators. However, it will not block an acquisition, as confirmed by Industry Marc Ferracci in the BFM Business microphone.
Source: BFM TV
