Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov reportedly may pay about US$5bn for fellow billionaire Mikhail Fridman’s 25.1% stake in local mobile operator MegaFon, thereby gaining a majority shareholding.
Usmanov already holds a 31.13% stake in MegaFon, …
Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov reportedly may pay about US$5bn for fellow billionaire Mikhail Fridman’s 25.1% stake in local mobile operator MegaFon, thereby gaining a majority shareholding.
Usmanov already holds a 31.13% stake in MegaFon, Russia’s second largest mobile operator, via holding company AF Telecom and may vie for a controlling stake, Bloomberg said, citing Russian newspaper RBC daily.
MegaFon did not respond to requests for comment before press deadline.
Fridman, also based in Russia, owns his stake in MegaFon via Alfa Group, which also has a 25% stake in Russia’s third largest mobile operator, Vimpelcom, through subsidiary Altimo.
MTS is the federation’s largest mobile operator.
Sweden’s TeliSonera is currently MegaFon’s biggest shareholder with a 43.77% stake.
