Brussels, 08/02/2000 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, the Commission declared that it was extending until 28 February the deadline for taking a decision on the merger between Vodafone Airtouch (UK) and Mannesmann (Germany). This can be explained by the fact that Vodafone presented to the Commission concessions concerning Orange, in order to face up to the concerns that the operation raises, and that the Commission services must study these new elements in detail.
Vodafone Airtouch and Mannesmann agreed last week to create the largest telecommunications company in Europe, worth EUR 180 million. In order not to violate competition rules, Vodafone, the largest British mobile phone operator, should withdraw from Orange, the third largest on the market.
In the assumption that the Commission will discover other aspects of this merger that could change the competition situation, it may still initiate a detailed investigation for which it will have four months.