Deutsche Telekom considering buying Hutchison's 3G in Italy

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Deutsche Telekom Interested in Buying Hutchison's 3G Operations - Report

Germany's Deutsche Telekom is reported this weekend to be considering a purchase of Hutchinson Whampoa's 3G networks within Europe - for a reported EUR15 billion (US$21.5 billion). In an advance copy of tomorrows (Monday) issue of the weekly business news magazine, WirtschaftsWoche, T-Mobile's Hamid Akhavan said that the company was "definitely interested in Hutchinson operations in Italy,"

T-Mobile has no existing operations in Italy, so there shouldn't be any competition problems from the regulators.

Hamid Akhavan has been the Member of the Board of Management of Deutsche Telekom responsible for the Mobile Communication business area since December 5, 2006, and is also Chairman of the Board of Management of T-Mobile International.

"However, there aren't any concrete talks yet," says the magazine, citing people close to Deutsche Telekom's Chief Executive Rene Obermann.

Hutchison 3G Italy was recently reported to be up for sale to a trade buyer, following a failed attempt to float the company on the Italian stock market a couple of years ago. The London Times newspaper reported last month that Hutchison Whampoa is understood to have sent out an information memorandum in the hope of unearthing potential bidders for the Italian division.

Goldman Sachs has also been rumoured to be passing round a sales document for Hutchison Whampoa's UK 3G operations for some months, without much interest.

On the web: WirtschaftsWoche

Deutsche Telekom Interested in Buying Hutchison's 3G Operations - Report