News
PPF reportedly considering plan to sell whole or part of its 84% stake.
O2 Czech Republic parent PPF is mulling whether to sell some or all of its stake in the operator, it emerged on Friday.
Sources cited by Bloomberg said that the investment company is exploring its options, but that no final decision has been taken, and that PPF may decide against divesting if it can’t attract a suitable bid.
In 2015, O2 Czech spun off its fixed and mobile networks into a separate entity, called CETIN. According to Bloomberg’s sources, PPF is also considering finding a long-term minority investor for that unit.
"While PPF notes that there is great interest from investors both for entry into O2 and into CETIN, we are not in talks with any banks in the sense of your speculation," said a spokeswoman for PPF, in an email to Total Telecom.
This is not the first time doubt has been cast over PPF’s ownership of O2 Czeh.
In March, rumours circulated that PPF planned to sell its O2 Czech stake to a group of Chinese investors, but they were strongly denied by the company.
PPF acquired a 65.9% stake in O2 Czech Republic or €2.47 billion in 2013, and has subsequently grown its holding to 84.06% following a number of mandatory tender offers and buyouts of minority shareholders.
This story was updated at 13:50 to include emailed comments from PPF.
