The State confirmed, Monday, November 4, the signing of the acquisition contract for the French telecommunications specialist Alcatel Submarine Network. This signing, scheduled for Tuesday November 5 in Calais (Pas-de-Calais), follows the acquisition promise made in June. With an amount estimated at around 100 million euros, this nationalization should bring the State up to 80% of the company’s capital.
All jobs would be retained. “This entry of the State into the capital should make it possible to develop the activity by ensuring strong and profitable growth”sums up Antoine Armand’s entourage. “Nokia has already invested significantly in the modernization of its industrial site, particularly in Calais. There is therefore no immediate need for investment in production tools in the short term.”
A strategic acquisition for the State
The State defends a “strategic” acquisition, while almost all intercontinental traffic, Internet and telephone, today passes under the oceans. The company alone would have 35% of the global market share according to Bercy. Acquired by the Finnish telecommunications specialist Nokia in 2016, Alcatel Submarine Network achieved approximately 1 billion euros in turnover in 2023 employees. With a workforce of more than 1,300 employees, the company is described as the only one in Europe to design, manufacture, install and maintain fiber optic cables at depths of several hundred, even thousands of meters. It has a large factory in Calais (Pas-de-Calais) – which has 600 employees alone – as well as a fleet of seven specialized vessels and offices in the United Kingdom and Norway.
“During our discussions, Nokia explained to us that it wanted to disengage from its underwater activities to refocus on terrestrial networks”explains a source close to the matter. Concurrent with the resale of ASN’s capital to the French State, the Finnish giant acquired, in June, the American telecoms equipment manufacturer Infinera, focused on the onshore market.
Majority shareholder until now, Nokia retains the remaining shares. If the Ministry of the Economy does not mention a firm intention to increase the company’s capital to 100%, it indicates that it has the “option” if Nokia wished to resell the remaining shares. The acquisition must be financially effective in the coming weeks, between 2024 and 2025, via the State Participation Agency.
Source: www.usinenouvelle.com
