GERMANY: MANNESMANN EMPLOYEES TAKEOVER PROTEST скачать в хорошем качестве

GERMANY: MANNESMANN EMPLOYEES TAKEOVER PROTEST

(19 Nov 1999) German/Nat Employees of German communications and engineering company Mannesmann have protested against an attempted hostile takeover by British telecommunications giant Vodafone AirTouch. The world's largest mobile-phone company has launched a 127 (b) billion U-S dollar bid for the German telecom group, which could become the largest ever hostile takeover. Mannesmann -- a company on the rise -- is German, and employees want it to stay that way. Soon after the announcement that British telecommunications giant Vodafone AirTouch would attempt a hostile takeover, workers massed outside Mannesmann's Dusseldorf headquarters, not shy of voicing their opinions. They carried defiant placards claiming they would not let themselves be sold and telling Vodafone to "get lost". SOUNDBITE: (German) "We are against a takeover because the social benefits will be erased and jobs will be cut. If a company does not want to be sold, then one should leave it alone." SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop, Mannesmann Employee Union officials told the crowd their jobs could be at risk. It's feared that Vodafone will dismantle the engineering arm of Mannesmann to concentrate solely on telecommunications. Earlier in the week, Mannesmann rejected a friendly offer by Vodafone to merge. That prompted the world's largest telecom company to go directly to Mannesmann's shareholders with the new bid on Friday. If successful, the combined Vodafone-Mannesmann operation would be the world's leading international mobile-phone group, with more than 42 (m) million customers. Analysts are divided on how extensively the merger would benefit the German corporation. Ironically, under the proposed deal, Vodafone would also win control of Orange, the British mobile telecom operator recently bought by Mannesmann. Despite the fact workers are against any deal, Mannesmann's share price rose considerably on the back of the intended takeover, enjoying an all-time high. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...