OSLO, Norway-Norwegian telecom operator Telenor said it has had talks with SBC Communications Inc. concerning SBC’s stake in TeleDanmark, the Danish telecom operator, and such talks may or may not continue. The talks are reported to be part of a possible merger between Telenor and TeleDanmark.
SBC owns 41.6 percent of TeleDanmark. SBC is said to want to refocus on the U.S. market.
A merger of the two Nordic companies would create a telecom group valued at about $15.8 billion, according to international press reports.
Both Telenor and Sweden’s Telia have been looking for Nordic partners since a merger between the Norwegian and Swedish groups collapsed in 1999.
One hurdle to a potential Telenor and TeleDanmark deal is Telenor’s 53.3-percent stake in Danish mobile operator Sonofon. Regulators would not approve a deal unless Telenor sells its Sonofon stake, reports said.
