The audiovisual regulator, Arcom, and the Competition Authority have given the green light to the acquisition by the shipping company CMA CGM of the media branch of the Altice group, which includes BFMTV and RMC, they indicated on Friday in two separate press releases.
The Competition Authority has, however, made its authorisation conditional on CMA CGM complying with certain commitments concerning the advertising market in the south of France. In this region, the Marseilles-based shipping company, headed by billionaire Rodolphe Saadé, already owns the daily newspaper La Provence.
In particular, CMA CGM has undertaken not to practice any form of group sales offer (coupling) of advertising space for La Provence and the local BFM Paca channels. “Given the commitments made by CMA CGM, the (competition) Authority has authorized the transaction following the phase 1 review,” it said in a press release.
A transaction worth 1.55 billion euros
For its part, Arcom has also decided to “issue approval” for the acquisition of Altice Media by CMA CGM, “in view of the commitments made by the purchaser”.
This announcement took everyone by surprise, as Altice had repeatedly denied rumors of the sale of its media branch, which had been recurring in previous months.
