CAIRO: France Telecom is looking to sell its Swiss subsidiary Orange Switzerland and already has the international interest of Egypt's Orascom Telecom Holding chief Naguib Sawiris and CVC Capital Partners, which owns Swiss rival Sunrise. Despite FT's desires against the sale to either of the two companies, earlier reports indicated, both Sawiris and CVC appear to have the upper hand in the deal. FT initially sought to merge with Sunrise in 2009, but that deal was blocked by the local governmental regulator. Now, the company is looking for the takeover, but Swiss analysts told Bikyamasr.com/IT News Africa that Sawiris' Orascom has the upper hand. “I completely believe that the Egyptian firm has a much better opportunity to make a bid that will be accepted because there is a desire not to have a monopoly possibility created through the sale and that is exactly what we would have with Sunrise,” said Samuel Ledeman, an advisor to the country's telecom operator. TeleGeography has reported that a number of other companies are expected to enter the bidding process, including the private equity firms Advent International, Apax, Bain, Cinven, EQTand Providence. Liberty Global's UPC Cablecom, Switzerland's second largest broadband provider, may also bid, as it has expressed interest in entering the mobile market. BM
