The owners of mobile operator 3 Scandinavia are ready to take part in consolidation that could be on the cards for Denmark and Sweden, according to CEO Peder Ramel.
3 Scandinavia is 60% owned by Hong Kong’s Hutchison Whampoa, while Investor AB holds a…
The owners of mobile operator 3 Scandinavia are ready to take part in consolidation that could be on the cards for Denmark and Sweden, according to CEO Peder Ramel.
3 Scandinavia is 60% owned by Hong Kong’s Hutchison Whampoa, while Investor AB holds a 40% stake.
“I believe my owners are willing to participate,” Ramel told Swedish financial paper Dagens Industri, adding that they could be buyers as well as sellers.
He said the Danish and Swedish markets, which have four main operators each, could see consolidation because it is unusual for a country with less than 15 million inhabitants to have more than three players.
For Denmark in particular, Ramel was cited saying that four operators was one too many.
Asked by TelecomFinance whether there was any interest in Finland, where mobile operator DNA is rumoured to be up for sale, Ramel said: “This is a question you have to ask my owners.”
Investor AB declined to comment. Hutchison was unable to comment before the press deadline.
In Denmark, most of the private equity owners of TDC, the country’s largest telco, completed their exit in late March.
Apax, Blackstone, Permira and Providence Equity sold off their stakes through an accelerated bookbuild, leaving just KKR with a share.
As well as 3, the other main operators in the country are Telenor and TeliaSonera.
In Sweden, 3’s main competitors are TeliaSonera, Tele2 and Telenor.
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