Re: Liberty Global in talks to merge Virgin Media with O2
 

virgin02media then

Re: Liberty Global in talks to merge Virgin Media with O2
 

VOMITT - Virgin, O2, Mobile, Internet, TV, Telephone :eek:
VO2, (most people don't say Virgin Media, they say Virgin)

Re: Liberty Global in talks to merge Virgin Media with O2
 

I like the VMO2 idea as the holding company's name.

It's three things;)
- It's structured as a takeover of Telefonica UK (which trades as O2) by Virgin Media as that ensures Virgin Media's valuable tax credits can still be used.
- It's an effective merger of Virgin Media Ltd and Telefionica UK Ltd as it's a combination of equals.
- The new entity will be 50-50 joint venture between Telefonica SA and Liberty Global plc.

---------- Post added at 11:40 ---------- Previous post was at 11:30 ----------

Is "Media" a relevant term for what is now a telecoms company?

Re: Liberty Global in talks to merge Virgin Media with O2
 

Re: Liberty Global in talks to merge Virgin Media with O2
 

"national connectivity champion" just trips off the tongue, doesn’t it? :D

Re: Liberty Global in talks to merge Virgin Media with O2
 

International cash cow champion would be a more honest description. ;)

Re: Liberty Global in talks to merge Virgin Media with O2
 

Champion of poor customer service and free coffees.

Re: Liberty Global in talks to merge Virgin Media with O2
 

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.ph...uk-merger.html

Ironically, the EU has overruled its decision to block the O2/Three merger from a few years ago. Too late now though, just thought it was an interesting development.

Re: Liberty Global in talks to merge Virgin Media with O2
 

I wonder if Three and Telefonica can seek compensation?

Re: Liberty Global in talks to merge Virgin Media with O2
 

4 years on..........reason enough to be free of the ECoJ

Re: Liberty Global in talks to merge Virgin Media with O2
 

I agree with that and probably indicates the likelihood that the Virgin brand will get ditched.

Re: Liberty Global in talks to merge Virgin Media with O2
 

Not likely....at all.

Both brands will continue. This is a JV, not a merger. A subtle but important difference. Both brand identities will continue until one party decides, and stumps up the cash, to buy the other one out.

Re: Liberty Global in talks to merge Virgin Media with O2
 

I disagree. Branding has nothing to do with whether the company is a result of a merger or JV. The parent cos will agree what branding the JV will use - they probably have already.

Using different brands by one company can in some cases be confusing and I see no benefit in retaining both brands post merger. Why pay Richard Branson money to use the Virgin brand when there will be another choice?

Perhaps there may even be a new brand altogether.

Re: Liberty Global in talks to merge Virgin Media with O2
 

Well, I’m going on previous examples. Vodafone/ Ziggo was LG’s first foray into this kind of thing, two strong brands, that they decided to keep.

Virgin is still an iconic sought after brand, and although we have to grease Ricardos palm, I don’t see them ditching it............................unless of course, ditching Richards money is one of the synergy savings identified? Who knows?

Re: Liberty Global in talks to merge Virgin Media with O2
 

Branson's brand was popular, but after recent events I'm not so sure now.

He's not been in the public eye much these recent years and he is getting elderly. But we we did see him a lot the other week, when he was seeking taxpayers cash to bail out his airline, even though he is a billionaire and a tax exile to boot.

I think that one move has done enormous damage to the brand and the JV may (or may not) wish to distance itself from all things related to Branson.