France Telecom gets set to squeeze Orange 3 Dec 2002 Reports that FT wants to buy in the Orange minorities are implausible. It's a nutty idea. Thursday's announcement is more likely to involve the promise of extra cash flow from the mobile outfit after it turns positive next year.
EdF battle cruiser springs a leak 2 Dec 2002 In just a year, the giant French utility has turned from an Empire builder into a potential basket case. At home, unions have rejected proposed pension reforms. Abroad, operations aren t looking that good either.
EdF draws short straw in Edison recapitalisation 2 Dec 2002 The French electricity giant is, in one way or another, on the hook for a full E1.2bn. But Fiat and its banks don't get off scotfree.
Deutsche Telekom taps T-Online for E732m 2 Dec 2002 The placement has rushed out the door. The likely proceeds only equal 1% of DT's debt mountain, but every little helps. The German incumbent has taken advantage of a good market opportunity to turn some of its holding in its internet subsidiary into cash.