registration document France Telecom 2009 - Orange.com

5 information about the issuer
5.1 HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPANY
5.1.1 Legal and Commercial name
“France Telecom”
5.1.2 Place of Registration
and Number
RCS (Trade Registry) number: Paris RCS 380 129 866
APE code: 642 C
5.1.3 Date of Incorporation
and Duration
France Telecom S.A. was incorporated as a Société Anonyme
(French limited company) on December 31, 1996 for a period of
99 years from that date. Barring early liquidation or extension,
the C ompany will expire on December 31, 2095.
5.1.4 Registered Office, legal Form
and governing Law
6, Place d’Alleray - 75015 Paris, France
Telephone: +33 (0)1 44 44 22 22
France Telecom S.A. is governed by French corporate law,
subject to specifi c laws governing the company, notably
Act 90-568 of July 2, 1990 on the organization of public postal
and telecommunications services, as amended by Act 96-660
of July 26, 1996 and Act 2003-1365 of December 31, 2003.
The regulations applicable to France Telecom S.A. as an
operator are described in Section 6.7 Regulation.
5.1.5 Important Events
in the Development
of the Company’s Business
France Telecom is the leading broadband Internet service
provider and the third largest mobile operator in Europe and
is one of the global leaders in telecommunication services
for multinational corporations. France Telecom has been
listed on the Euronext Paris Eurolist market and on the New
York Stock Exchange since October 1997, when the French
government sold 25% of its shares to the public and to France
Telecom employees. France Telecom’s switch from the public
sector to the private sector took place on September 7, 2004
following the State’s disposal of an additional 10.85% of France
Telecom’s capital. As of December 31, 2009, the Government
held 26.97% of France Telecom’s capital, directly, indirectly,
or in association with the Fonds Stratégique d’Investissement
(Strategic Investment Fund).
Since the 1990s, France Telecom’s business and its regulatory
and competitive landscapes have undergone signifi cant
changes that have affected the composition of its revenues
as well as its business activities and internal organization. All
telecommunications market segments in France have been
opened up to competition since January 1, 1998 with the
exception of local calls, which were opened up to competition
on January 1, 2002.
Against this background of deregulation and heightened
competition, from 1999 to 2002 France Telecom pursued
a strategy of developing new services and accelerated
its international expansion by making numerous strategic
investments (acquisitions, equity investments, UMTS licenses).
During that period, it specifi cally acquired Orange Plc., Global
One, and Equant, and made equity investments in Polish operator
TP S.A., NTL in the United Kingdom and MobilCom in Germany.
However, further to various transactions, France Telecom no
longer holds any interest in NTL, and its interest in MobilCom
stands at less than 1%. For the most part, it was not possible
to fi nance these strategic investments through share issues,
leading to a signifi cant increase in the Group’s debt.
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2009 REGISTRATION DOCUMENT / FRANCE TELECOM
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