Altice USA to keep Suddenlink business after strategic review
[1/2] The logo of cable and mobile telecoms company Altice Group is seen during a news conference in Paris, France, March 21, 2017. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer/File Photo
Dec 1 (Reuters) - Altice USA Inc (ATUS.N) will retain its regional internet and cable business, Suddenlink, the broadband service operator said on Thursday, following a strategic review.
The company, controlled by Franco-Israeli telecoms tycoon Patrick Drahi, had hired Goldman Sachs to run the divestment process, a source told Reuters in July, with the business likely fetching a valuation of $20 billion including debt.
Shares of Altice fell about 4% in trading before the bell.
Altice had acquired Suddenlink, which primarily serves customers in the south-central U.S., for $9.1 billion in 2015 and rebranded it as "Optimum" in August.
The company was exploring a sale of Suddenlink to reduce its debt load amid strong competition and subscriber losses. Altice, which has a market capitalization of about $2 billion, has a long-term debt of about $24 billion.
The stock has lost about half its value since reports of the company exploring a sale of the unit emerged.
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