{{Short description|Luxembourg-based multinational telecommunications and mass media company}} {{about|the company in Europe, Israel, and the Caribbean|the former USA subsidiary that is now independent|Altice USA}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}} {{Expand French|Altice|date=January 2018}} {{Infobox company | name = Altice Group Lux Sàrl | logo = Altice_logo_(new).png | logo_size = 175px | type = Private | traded_as = | ISIN = | industry = Telecommunications<br />Mass media | founded = {{start date and age|df=yes|2001}} | hq_location_country = Luxembourg City, Luxembourg | founder = Patrick Drahi | area_served = Worldwide | key_people = {{ubl |Patrick Drahi (chairman) |Alain Weill (CEO) }} | products = Cable television, Direct-broadcast satellite, broadcasting, broadband and telephony services, mass media | revenue = €2.54 billion <small>(2017)</small> | operating_income = €2.845 billion <small>(2017)</small> | net_income = €179.3 million <small>(2017)</small> | assets = €88.39 million <small>(2017)</small> | equity = €30.00 million <small>(2017)</small> | owner = Patrick Drahi (controlling shareholder) | num_employees = {{nowrap|47,143 <small>(2018)</small>}} | subsidiaries = Altice Dominicana<br>Altice France<br>Altice Portugal<br>Hot | divisions = | website = {{URL|www.altice.net}} }} '''Altice Group Lux Sàrl''' (formerly '''Altice Europe N.V.''' and commonly known as '''Altice''') is a Luxembourg-based multinational telecommunications and mass media company with official headquarters in Luxembourg, founded and headed by the French-Israeli billionaire businessman Patrick Drahi, and the second largest telecoms company in France, behind Orange.
It had a market capitalization of €13.7 billion in December 2017, and a market cap of less than €6 billion in June 2019, a 56% decline for the stock since Drahi financed the business with debt.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/gadfly/articles/2017-12-05/altice-billionaire-stays-in-his-59-billion-comfort-zone|title=Cable Billionaire Stays In His $59 Billion Comfort Zone|last=Laurent|first=Lionel|date=5 December 2017|work=Bloomberg|access-date=21 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/altice-stocks/altice-shares-drop-down-to-new-lows-idUSP6N1NF01C|title=Altice shares drop down to new lows|date=30 November 2017|work=Reuters|access-date=21 December 2017}}</ref> In 2016, the company had over 50 million internet, TV, and phone customers in Western Europe, Israel, the United States (where it formerly operated) and the Caribbean.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/06/altice-usa-shares-warmly-greeted-wall-street-anniversary-cablevision-deal-1202118267/|title=Altice USA Shares Rise As It Goes Public On Anniversary Of Cablevision Deal|first=David|last=Lieberman|date=22 June 2017}}</ref> Altice formerly owned a subsidiary in the USA until that company, while retaining the Altice name, was spun off through an IPO in June 2019, making the former USA division independent from the rest of Altice but retaining the same chairman, Patrick Drahi, and the same logo.<ref name=spinoff>{{cite news|url=https://www.barrons.com/articles/altices-u-s-spinoff-looks-like-a-winning-bet-1527292802|title=Altice's U.S. Spinoff Looks Like a Winning Bet|author=Alpert, Bill|work=Barron's|date=26 May 2019|access-date=18 June 2019}}</ref>
==History== Altice bought several regional cable television operators in France from 2002 to 2007, merging them under the brand Numericable.
In 2009, Patrick Drahi increased his stake in Hot, a cable television operator in Israel. Drahi completed the takeover in 2011, and offered to buy the remaining shares in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Yoshai|first=Michal|date=2009-11-15|title=Drahi nears HOT control – Globes|url=https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-1000513711|access-date=2020-08-18|website=Globes|language=he}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.globes.co.il/en/-did-1000701877|title=Patrick Drahi completes HOT takeover – Globes|date=2011-11-29|website=en.globes.co.il|language=he|access-date=2019-07-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.globes.co.il/en/-did-1000787685|title=Drahi ups HOT offer to purchase – Globes|date=2012-10-03|website=en.globes.co.il|language=he|access-date=2019-07-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.challenges.fr/entreprise/drahi-le-patron-de-numericable-a-teste-en-israel-sa-strategie-pour-sfr_159770|title=Drahi, le patron de Numericable, a testé en Israël sa stratégie pour SFR|website=Challenges|language=fr|access-date=2019-07-03}}</ref>
In November 2013, Orange announced it was selling Orange Dominicana to Altice for $1.4 billion.
In March 2014, it acquired SFR, France's second-largest mobile phone and Internet services company, from Vivendi.
In November 2014, France's competition watchdog approved a deal for Numericable to acquire Virgin Mobile France for €325 million.
In May 2015, Altice acquired a 70% controlling stake in Suddenlink Communications, which valued the seventh-largest US cable company at US$9.1 billion. The other 30% continues to be owned by BC Partners and CPP Investment Board.<ref name="Bloomberg">{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-05-20/time-warner-cable-said-to-receive-takeover-approach-from-altice|title=Time Warner Cable Said to Get Takeover Approach From Altice|last1=Smith|first1=Gerry|date=20 May 2015|work=Bloomberg|access-date=21 May 2015}}</ref>
In May 2015, Altice was said to be launching a bid for Time Warner Cable, which has a US$45 billion market capitalization, following a failed bid by Comcast.<ref name=Bloomberg /> It was instead acquired by Charter Communications.<ref name=wsj-alticecablevision/>
In June 2015 Altice acquired Portugal Telecom<ref name=PT>{{cite web| date= 2 June 2015 | publisher= Agence France-Presse and Business Insider| title=Altice finalises acquisition of Portugal Telecom| access-date=1 August 2015| url= http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-altice-finalises-acquisition-of-portugal-telecom-2015-6}}</ref> and sold Cabovisão to Apax France{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}} (later Seven2).
In June 2015, it was reported that Altice had offered €10 billion for Bouygues Telecom, the third largest telecoms company in France.<ref name=Telegraph>{{cite news|last1=Davidson|first1=Lauren|title=Patrick Drahi eyes Bouygues Telecom for French merger|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/11689735/Patrick-Drahi-eyes-Bouygues-Telecom-for-French-merger.html|access-date=22 June 2015|work=Daily Telegraph|date=21 June 2015}}</ref> Bouygues' board refused and as of March 2016, is considering merging with Orange.<ref name="cnbc">{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/02/24/march-is-go-or-no-go-for-bouygues-merger-decision-orange.html|publisher=cnbc.com|title=March is 'go or no go' for Bouygues merger decision: Orange|access-date=10 September 2016}}</ref>
On 17 September 2015, it was announced that Altice would acquire Cablevision, a Bethpage, Long Island based cable provider for US$17.7 billion, including debt.<ref name=wsj-alticecablevision>{{cite news|title=Altice to Buy Cablevision for $10 Billion|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/altice-to-buy-cablevision-for-10-billion-1442472485|access-date=17 September 2015|work=Wall Street Journal|date=17 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Ackman |first=Dan |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/european-cable-firm-altice-to-buy-cablevision-for-17-7-billion/ |title=European cable firm Altice to buy Cablevision for $17.7 billion |publisher=CNET |date=17 September 2015 |access-date=7 October 2015}}</ref>
In October 2015, it was announced that backing the Altice purchase of Cablevision, were private equity firm BC Partners and CPPIB.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.swfinstitute.org/news/36126/cppib-and-bc-partners-back-altices-bid-for-cablevision |title=CPPIB and BC Partners Back Altice's Bid for Cablevision |publisher=Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute |date=28 October 2015 |access-date=30 October 2015}}</ref>
In December 2016, Altice announced its deal to sell SFR Belux to Telenet for €400 million.
In March 2017, Altice acquired video ad tech firm Teads for US$307 million.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/altice-acquires-teads-for-322-million-2017-3|title=Video ad tech firm Teads to be acquired by Dutch telco Altice for $307 million|work=Business Insider|access-date=21 March 2017|language=en}}</ref> The company filed for IPO in July 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bruell |first1=Alexandra |title=Altice's Ad-Tech Company Teads Files for IPO |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/altices-ad-tech-company-teads-plans-to-file-for-ipo-11625604384 |website=Wall Street Journal |date=6 July 2021}}</ref>
In May 2017, Altice and Altice USA unveiled a new logo and slogan, "Together Has No Limits", and announced that it would unify all of its telecom holdings under the singular Altice brand by mid-2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/altice-unveils-unified-global-brand-strategy-1006634|title=Altice Unveils Unified Global Brand, Strategy|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=2017-11-11|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.multichannel.com/news/distribution/altice-unveils-new-global-brand-logo/413024|title=Altice Unveils New Global Brand, Logo |website=Multichannel News|language=en|access-date=2017-11-11}}</ref>
Altice split from Altice USA in 2018.<ref name="Split">{{cite news |title=Altice to split into separate US and European companies |url=https://www.capacitymedia.com/article/29ot9ubdoo3nh6g62pudc/news/altice-to-split-into-separate-us-and-european-companies |access-date=26 May 2022 |work=Capacity Media |date=9 January 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
In September 2020, Drahi put on an offer of €2.5 billion to buy minority shareholders of Altice Europe and secure control of the company.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/5db956c4-73fa-4b2b-bea9-e244bf4ce441|title=Drahi offers to take Altice Europe private in €2.5bn buyout|work=Financial Times|author1=Nic Fildes|author2=Nikou Asgari|date=11 September 2020|access-date=12 September 2020}}</ref> An increased bid was accepted in January 2021,<ref name="Increased">{{cite news |title=Billionaire Drahi gets green light to take Altice Europe private - union |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-altice-europe-buyout-agm-idUKKBN29C1MC |access-date=26 May 2022 |work=Reuters |date=7 January 2021 |language=en}}</ref> and the company delisted from the Euronext stock exchange.<ref name="Euronext 1">{{cite web |title=ALTICE EUROPE N.V. |url=https://live.euronext.com/product/equities/NL0011333752-XAMS/quotes |website=live.euronext.com |access-date=26 May 2022}}</ref><ref name="Euronext 2">{{cite web |title=ALTICE EUROPE N.V. B |url=https://live.euronext.com/product/equities/NL0011333760-XAMS/quotes |website=live.euronext.com |access-date=26 May 2022}}</ref>
In June 2021, Altice acquired 12% of BT.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57425281|title=France's second biggest telecoms firm buys 12% of BT |website=BBC|language=en|access-date=2021-06-11}}</ref>
In December 2021, Altice acquired a further 6% stake in BT taking the total ownership to 18%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-59610775|title=BT: Billionaire Patrick Drahi raises stake to 18%|website=BBC|language=en|access-date=2021-12-14}}</ref>
In August 2024, Altice sold its 24.5% stake in the British group British Telecom to the Indian telecom company Bharti Airtel. The total value of the transaction amounted to 3.5 billion euros.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-12 |title=British Telecom : Altice vend sa part à l'indien Bharti Airtel pour 3 milliards de livres |url=https://www.latribune.fr/technos-medias/telecoms/british-telecom-altice-vend-sa-part-a-l-indien-bharti-airtel-pour-3-milliards-de-livres-1004124.html |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=La Tribune |language=fr}}</ref>
In June 2025, Altice France filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection, weeks after it also entered safeguard proceedings in France.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-18/altice-france-files-for-chapter-15-bankruptcy-in-new-york|title=Altice France Files for Chapter 15 Bankruptcy in New York|first=Edward|last=Clark|date=June 18, 2025|access-date=June 18, 2025|website=Bloomberg|language=en}}</ref>
==Criticism== ===Involvement in Israeli settlements===
{{See also|List of companies operating in West Bank settlements}}
On 12 February 2020, the United Nations published a database of all business enterprises involved in certain specified activities related to the Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Golan Heights.<ref name="unlist_ohchr">{{cite news |date=12 February 2020 | title=UN rights office issues report on business activities related to settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory | url=https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25542 |work=Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights | access-date=5 July 2021}}</ref><ref name="unlist_reliefweb">{{cite news |date=14 February 2020 | title=Database of all business enterprises involved in certain activities relating to Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank (A/HRC/43/71) | url=https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/database-all-business-enterprises-involved-certain-activities |work=ReliefWeb | access-date=5 July 2021}}</ref> Altice has been listed on the database in light of its involvement in activities related to "the provision of services and utilities supporting the maintenance and existence of settlements".<ref name="unlist_ohchr"/><ref name="unlist_reliefweb"/> The international community considers Israeli settlements built on land occupied by Israel to be in violation of international law.<ref name=unsc2334>{{cite news |date=23 December 2016 | title=S/RES/2334(2016) | url=https://undocs.org/S/RES/2334(2016) |work=United Nations Security Council | access-date=5 July 2021}}</ref><ref name=icj_settlements>{{cite news |date=9 July 2004 | title=Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory | url=https://www.icj-cij.org/public/files/case-related/131/131-20040709-ADV-01-00-EN.pdf |work=International Court of Justice | access-date=5 July 2021}}</ref><ref name=icc_settlements>{{cite news |date=5 December 2001 | title=Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention | url=https://www.icrc.org/en/doc/resources/documents/statement/57jrgw.htm |work=International Committee of the Red Cross | access-date=5 July 2021}}</ref>
On 5 July 2021, Norway's largest pension fund KLP said it would divest from Altice together with 15 other business entities implicated in the UN report for their links to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/nordic-fund-klp-excludes-16-companies-over-links-israeli-settlements-west-bank-2021-07-05/|title=Nordic fund KLP excludes 16 companies over links to Israeli settlements in West Bank|first1=Gwladys|last1=Fouche|first2=Simon|last2=Jessop|date=5 July 2021|publisher=Reuters|access-date=2021-09-13}}</ref>
==See also== *Altice Dominicana S.A. *Altice Portugal *Altice USA
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== *{{official|https://www.altice.net}}
{{AEX companies}}
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Category:Altice (company) Category:2001 establishments in France Category:Telecommunications companies of France Category:Companies based in Amsterdam Category:Telecommunications companies of the Netherlands Category:Companies formerly listed on Euronext Amsterdam Category:Mass media companies established in 2001 Category:Mass media companies of Europe