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PARIS, June 14 (Reuters) - French number one telecomsoperator Orange is open to merger moves in Europe withthe aim to become one of the two biggest regional companies inthe sector, Chief Executive Officer Stephane Richard said onTuesday.
"We consider Orange as a major European actor," Richard saidat a hearing held by the National Assembly's committee ofeconomic affairs. "If there remains only one or two (operators),Orange will be one of them. It can lead us to make moves in theEuropean arena."
Asked about the presence of the French state in thecompany's capital, Richard said Orange was an exception inEurope, compared to other former state monopolies likeTelefonica.
"Orange could perfectly live on without having the state inits capital," Richard said. "We don't need the state in thecapital."
The French government controls 23 percent of the shares ofOrange. President Francois Hollande said last week that theFrench state intended to remain a major shareholder in thetelecoms operator.
(Reporting by Mathieu Rosemain and Gwenaelle Barzic; Editing byMaya Nikolaeva)
