Orange / MasOrange Merger Cleared Under Article 6(1)(b) EU Merger Regulation
Summary
The European Commission cleared Orange S.A.'s acquisition of sole control over MasOrange S.L., both telecommunications operators. The Commission determined the transaction falls within the scope of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 and, under simplified treatment procedures, declared it compatible with the internal market and the EEA Agreement. The decision was adopted pursuant to Article 6(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation.
What changed
The European Commission issued a decision under Article 6(1)(b) of the EU Merger Regulation clearing Orange S.A.'s acquisition of sole control over MasOrange S.L. The transaction involved Orange purchasing the remaining stake in MasOrange from co-owner Lorca JVCo Limited, transforming joint control into sole control. The Commission applied simplified treatment procedures and declared the concentration compatible with the internal market and EEA Agreement without imposing any conditions.
For telecommunications firms considering mergers or acquisitions within the EU, this decision confirms continued willingness to clear straightforward transactions under simplified procedures. Parties should ensure notification filings are complete and fall within the criteria for simplified treatment to benefit from expedited review. The decision has no compliance deadlines or penalties as it represents an approval rather than an enforcement action.
What to do next
- Monitor for any subsequent Commission requests or conditions
Archived snapshot
Apr 14, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Case M.12247 - ORANGE / MASORANGE
Only the English text is available and authentic. REGULATION (EC) No 139/2004
MERGER PROCEDURE
Article 6(1)(b)
Date: 10/04/2026
In electronic form on the EUR-Lex website under document number 32026M12247
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DG Competition
Brussels, 10.4.2026 C(2026) 2496 final
PUBLIC VERSION
Orange S.A. 111, Quai du Président Roosevelt 92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
Subject: Case M.12247 - ORANGE / MASORANGE Commission decision pursuant to Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 ( ) and Article 57 of the Agreement on the European 1 Economic Area ( ) 2
Dear Sir or Madam, (1) On 13 March 2026, the European Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of the Merger Regulation, by which the undertaking Orange S.A. ("Orange", France) will acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control over the whole of the undertaking MasOrange, S.L. ("MasOrange", Spain), currently jointly controlled by Orange and Lorca JVCo Limited (the United Kingdom), by way of purchase of shares. ( ) 3 (2) The business activities of the undertakings concerned are the following: - Orange is a global telecommunications operator, providing a wide range of electronic communications services mainly in the area of fixed line, internet and mobile telephony in 26 countries worldwide, - MasOrange is a telecommunications operator providing landline, mobile, broadband and TV services to customers in Spain. (3) After examination of the notification, the European Commission has concluded that the notified operation falls within the scope of the Merger Regulation and of
() OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the 'Merger Regulation'). With effect from 1 December 2009, the Treaty 1 on the Functioning of the European Union ('TFEU') has introduced certain changes, such as the replacement of 'Community' by 'Union' and 'common market' by 'internal market'. The terminology of the TFEU will be used throughout this decision. () OJ L 1, 3.1.1994, p. 3 (the 'EEA Agreement'). 2 () OJ C, C/2026/1919, 25.3.2026. 3
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
paragraph 5(e) of the Commission Notice on a simplified treatment for certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. ( ) (4) For the reasons set out in the Notice on a simplified treatment, the European Commission has decided not to oppose the notified operation and to declare it compatible with the internal market and with the EEA Agreement. This decision is adopted in application of Article 6(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation and Article 57 of the EEA Agreement.
For the Commission
(Signed)
Linsey MCCALLUM
Director-General (acting) Directorate-General for Competition
() OJ C 160, 5.5.2023, p. 1 (the 'Notice on a simplified treatment'). 4
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