Tele Columbus shareholder United Internet could push for full control or sale
United Internet, a German telecommunication group, could try to secure full control of Tele Columbus, a local cable network operator, after becoming the latter’s largest shareholder, Euro am Sonntag suggested. Without naming sources, the newspaper pointed out that United Internet, which recently boosted its stake in Tele Columbus to 25.1%, will need to make a move to unlock value from its investment in the cable network operator. The report suggested that the second scenario alongside the aforementioned takeover is to groom Tele Columbus for a sale to a rival or mobile carrier.
The newspaper pointed out that United Internet’s stake in Drillisch, a German provider of mobile telecommunication services, means that there are existing ties with O2 [Telefonica Deutschland], a German mobile carrier of Spanish telecommunications group Telefonica. It speculated that Tele Columbus could expand its product portfolio by teaming up with O2. The report also pointed out that United Internet is a major client of Vodafone, a UK telco for which Tele Columbus could also prove useful.
Tele Columbus has a market cap of EUR 1.001bn.
Euro am Sonntag