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US SEC approves Spotify IPO; Yandex.Taxi, Uber complete merger

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US SEC approves Spotify IPO; Yandex.Taxi, Uber complete merger

TOP NEWS

* The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has cleared the way for Spotify AB to pursue its reported direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange. Wall Street's chief regulator approved the NYSE's proposal to begin offering direct listings as a fast track for companies to go public, according to an SEC filing.

* Yandex NV and Uber Technologies Inc. completed the consolidation of Yandex.Taxi and Uber's ride-sharing businesses in Russia and in other nearby countries. The businesses of both companies will be merged into one company, which will have a combined $400 million in cash on hand at closing.

PAN-EUROPEAN

* France and Germany are calling for changes in the ways that U.S.-based digital companies are being taxed in the European Union, Reuters reports. French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire is seeking for the EU to appropriate new taxing regulations on digital companies. Meanwhile, Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and the Social Democrats call for the U.S. tech companies to pay higher taxes, according to a separate Reuters report.

* The U.S. Justice Department indicted 36 people involved in cybercrime, including 13 people who were arrested in the U.S., Australia, the U.K., France, Italy, Kosovo and Serbia, Reuters reports. The group, which uses the slogan "In Fraud We Trust," was created in 2010 by Ukrainian citizen Svyatoslav Bondarenko and purchased and sold confidential information, such as social security numbers, birthdays and passwords.

* Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com Inc. Inc. aims to expand its footprint across Europe within "a few years" to start challenging Amazon.com Inc. there as early as 2019, London's Financial Times reports, citing CEO Richard Liu. He said JD's platform and delivery services would debut in France, where it is investing at least €1 billion over two years to develop a logistics network, before venturing into the U.K. and Germany.

UK AND IRELAND

* U.K. broadband provider TalkTalk Telecom Group PLC is reporting its fiscal third-quarter earnings later today, following last week's plunge in its share price due to fears over another dividend cut and heightened competition from larger rivals such as Vodafone Group Plc in the budget end of the market. French broker Exane BNP Paribas on Jan. 31 lowered its price target for the FTSE 250 listed firm from 140 pence to 90 pence.

* Hedge fund Elliott Capital Advisors LP has reported a higher stake of about 1.86% in Sky plc, equivalent to 31,897,189 shares. The investor purchased an additional 4,999,148 shares in the British pay TV giant.

* Vodafone UK named Scott Petty as its chief technology officer, taking over from Jorge Fernandes. Scott was formerly Vodafone Group's technology enterprise director. In addition, Vodafone UK added the fixed networks portfolio to the responsibilities held by its head of mobile networks, Kye Prigg.

GERMANY, SWITZERLAND AND AUSTRIA

* European cultural TV channel Arte vowed to increase its efforts to support documentaries in 2018. The company increased its market share in Germany by 1.1%.

FRANCE

* Orange SA said it is preparing for the arrival of 5G by conducting several tests related to improved high-speed mobile broadband, high-speed fixed broadband access and new applications to support the digital transformation of businesses in Europe. The company is performing the trials together with its technological and innovation partners.

* The Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel issued a statement regarding the conflict between publishers and distributors of free television services. The French regulator expressed concern and its willingness to accompany and facilitate discussions, taking into account the interest of viewers and the economic situation of the operators concerned.

* Les Echos and NetExplo announced the launch of a platform called The Digital Coach, in partnership with CCI Paris Ile-de-France, Alphabet Inc. unit Google Inc. and SoLocal Group SA. The Digital Coach supports managers of small and medium-sized enterprises in their digital transformation.

NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM AND LUXEMBOURG

* Netherlands-based NXP Semiconductors NV said it continues to believe in a future merger with Qualcomm Inc., after the latter earlier this week got set an ultimatum by Broadcom Ltd. not to raise its offer for NXP. The Dutch company also released its results for the fourth quarter of 2017, reporting a revenue of $2.46 billion, an increase of about 1% year over year, and an increase of 3% as compared to the prior quarter.

* Dutch mobile operator VodafoneZiggo has signed an agreement with Ericsson AB for the provision of Ericsson's virtual Evolved Packet Core Solution on its common cloud infrastructure. The packet, which will be implemented during the second half of 2018, will manage the significant growth in data traffic.

* The Orange Belgium group reported a total turnover of €317.5 million and €1.25 billion in the fourth quarter and full year 2017, respectively. The group's adjusted EBITDA amounted to €61.9 million and €302.2 million in the fourth quarter and full year 2017. Orange Belgium's postpaid net additions reached 28,000 in the fourth quarter of 2017, the highest result since 2011.

* Belgian provider Telenet said it will allow users of its video-on-demand app Yelo Play to watch TV programs via Wi-Fi, 3G or 4G connections in Belgium. Before, a Telenet internet connection was necessary. From April 1, the changes will apply to the whole of the EU.

NORDIC COUNTRIES

* Tele2 AB CEO Allison Kirkby has acquired 10,000 class B shares in the Swedish company, Dagens Industri reports. Kirkby paid 97.50 Swedish kronor per Tele2 share, for a total transaction value of 975,000 kronor.

* Nokia Corp. and Qualcomm completed an interoperability trial in the 3.5Ghz and 28Ghz spectrum, Nokia said. The trial, compliant with the global 3GPP 5G NR Specification, used Nokia AirScale's base station and device prototypes from Qualcomm.

* Elisa Corp. said it has tested augmented reality, virtual reality and game applications on a 5G network built with Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. in Helsinki. The 5G network operates on the 3.5 GHz band. The project marks the latest stage in Elisa's commercial 5G launch in Finland.

* Broadnet AS may appeal a 14 million Norwegian kroner fine imposed by industry regulator Nkom, Kraftnytt reports. Nkom ruled that Broadnet breached network security protocols when it failed to prevent unauthorized access by an India-based subcontractor to its ICT system.

SOUTHERN EUROPE

* Telecom Italia SpA has agreed to bring its national fixed-line network into a separate company that will be fully owned by the Italian operator, Telecompaper reports. The agreement took place at a meeting between Telecom Italia CEO Amos Genish and Italian Industry Minister Carlo Calenda. Genish will discuss the proposal to the company's board at its next scheduled meeting on March 6.

* Vodafone Turkey will include eight channels from SPI International Inc./FILMBOX in its mobile service Vodafone TV. The channels include FilmBox and FilmBox Art House, FightBox, Fast&FunBox, DocuBox, FashionBox and 360 TuneBox. SPI's digital service Filmbox On Demand will also be available on the Vodafone unit's service.

* Spanish regulator Comision Nacional de los Mercados y de la Competencia has launched an investigation into an alleged agreement between Mediaset SpA and Atresmedia on TV advertising prices, Advanced Television reports. The supposed agreement is said to have brought disadvantages to smaller TV operators.

EASTERN EUROPE

* Czech investment fund PPF Group NV has expressed interest in acquiring Telenor's businesses in central and eastern Europe, Telecompaper reports, citing Danas.

* Russian companies National Media Group and CTC Media Inc. will combine their internet assets into a new company, Broadband TV News reports, citing Kommersant. Former Amedia TV General Director Denis Gorshkov will head the new company.

* Bulgarian investment fund River Styxx Capital Ad failed to secure the consent of the Serbian central bank to purchase an 85% stake in Telenor banka ad Beograd from Norwegian operator Telenor ASA, Vecernje novosti reports. The regulator told the Serbian daily that based on the submitted request and documentation, it determined that the new investor does not meet conditions defined by Serbian regulations.

* Rostelecom PJSC began discussions to acquire security services provider Solar Security, Telecompaper reports, citing Vedomosti. The deal, which may close in the second quarter of 2018, is anticipated to have a transaction amount between 1.14 billion Russian rubles and 1.43 billion rubles, according to analysts.

FEATURED NEWS

Viacom, Telefónica ink LatAm mobile agreement; RTVE seals distribution deals: In this monthly feature, S&P Global Market Intelligence provides a roundup of news related to over-the-top, video-on-demand and other video initiatives in different Latin American markets.

FEATURED RESEARCH

Wireless Investor: France mobile projections 2018: French mobile subscribers expand on strong growth in the machine-to-machine market, as 4G penetration reached 52%.

Global Multichannel: TV sales house consolidation legacy can fuel progress in advanced advertising: Major TV advertising sales houses in key European markets are using established links from an era of market consolidation to content with digital giants, such as Alphabet's Google, in the field of advanced TV advertising.

RECENT EARNINGS

New NFL TNF package gives Fox 'great monetization opportunities': Executive Chairman Lachlan Murdoch said the five-year rights deal provides "clear runway" for the company to grow value of its broadcast business.

Softbank CEO discusses IPO plans for telecom unit as profits surge YOY: SoftBank Group Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son said during an earnings call that the company's plans to "expand the customer base and generate new businesses" are primary reasons for preparing the telecom unit's initial public offering.

Anne Freier, Amanda Kelly, Charlotte van Hek and Gerard O'Dwyer contributed to this report. The Daily Dose has an editorial deadline of 7 a.m. London time. Some external links may require a subscription.