Martin Bouygues said that “not everything is for sale” in its … – Le Figaro

VIDEOS – The head of the operator, who rejected the takeover offer 10 billion proposed by Numericable, SFR for its telecom subsidiary, said on RTL that its competitors were seeking to “make . disappear “because of the relevance of its offerings

Martin Bouygues can not be clearer:” A company is not a commodity like another, all is not for sale, “he has launched this Wednesday morning at the microphone of RTL, following the rejection of the offer of EUR 10 billion proposed by Patrick Drahi to swallow its subsidiary Bouygues Telecom. Whoever is rare in ordinary media, held to justify this choice: “The French market is monitored, controlled by the competition authorities. I think in the case of a concentration of the French market, they impose many remedies. I do not see how Mr. Drahi could mount a serious funding “

Martin Bouygues also sees the relentlessness of its competitors to redeem a sign of weakness.” We now have a credible offer, strong, powerful. For six months, we have a strong winning new customers and the fixed line, an offer to 19.99 euros destabilizing our competitors who are very strong margins and seeking to make us disappear, “he says. “Our offers are so relevant, I understand that it bothers them.”

The boss of Bouygues, which also surprised “that Mr. and Mr. Niel Drahi start arm in arm in this case “assures that no political intervention did not influence the decision of its Board of Directors. “If this report was true with the policies, the allocation of a fourth license could not have been held in these conditions,” he says. “The unanimity (for the rejection of the offer of Patrick Drahi) proves that there was no debate. It pleases me because it shows that the strategy is understood by the board, “says the boss.

” Four operators is quite correct if the control is fair “

The Strategy now focuses on the survival of Bouygues Telecom, alone, in a sector” in crisis for four years because of regulations problems that have created serious disturbances ” concedes Martin Bouygues. Optimistic, it lists the strengths of its subsidiary: “A team of exceptional collaborators” with, in mobile, “very particular with relevant offers 4G” and “the biggest data consumption ‘on this network. . Finally, the fixed, “offers easily replicable by competitors”

Martin Bouygues sweeps -for the moment- the hopes of those who call for a consolidation of the sector: “Four operators that is all completely correct if the regulation is fair. When we look at the US market, there are only 3 operators on a huge market and it is three times more expensive than Bouygues. I do not see how the size lowers the price, “he slice.

This morning, the Minister of Labour, François Rebsamen, said he was” satisfied “by the position of Martin Bouygues. “Behind all this, there is employment, over 10,000 employees at SFR-Numericable, about 9,000 Bouygues, 20,000 jobs are at stake,” he explained.

The Minister said he had “met Patrick Drahi there ten days,” as Martin Bouygues’ to see what their prospects even if they are private companies and they do not give always all the information. ” “We must be vigilant, we must monitor this sector in motion, which is expected to grow,” he insisted.

In exchange, investors were less convinced. Shortly after the start of trading, the Bouygues share lost 6.23% to 35.53 euros, bringing down Numericable, SFR (-11.49% to 48.21 euros), Orange (-3.01% to 14,50 euros) and Iliad, parent company of Free (-6.18% to 214.10 euros), in a market up slightly by 0.13%.