The European Commission (EC) has cleared the acquisition of UPC Poland by French telecoms group Iliad from Liberty Global, as the company aims to bolster its position in the eastern European country.
In an update, the EC says in its ruling the acquisition would not raise competition concerns and the transaction will see only minor overlaps in the selling of mobile, broadband, audio-visual services and multi-play services.
Additionally, the acquisition will not stifle access to the wholesale mobile network market, says the EC.
Iliad and Liberty Global struck the purchase agreement in September 2021 for the sum of PLN7 billion (US$1.6 bn).
The French telecoms group only entered the Polish market in 2020 when Iliad acquired the country’s second-largest operator Play. UPC Poland will be made into a subsidiary of Play once the acquisition is complete.