VimpelCom, a mobile operator initially focused on Russia but which has grown into an important international telecom group, is considering a new acquisition in Italy, a source in the Italian government told Russian business daily Vedomosti.
Through its merger last April with Italian mobile operator Wind Telecom, VimpelCom already controls 23% of the Italian market. Further acquisitions could enable VimpelCom to compete better with local market leaders Telecom Italia and Vodafone Italia, which both control an approximate 35% market share.
Such a move would also allow VimpelCom to maintain the Italian share of the group’s revenues, which otherwise would diminish due to the rapid Russian market growth.
According to Informa Principal Analyst Dario Talmesio, Vimpelcom has held active discussions with Hutchison 3G, the owner of 3 Italia. Among other potential acquisition targets are BT Italia, optical fiber Internet provider Fastweb, virtual mobile operator Poste Mobile as well as fixed line operator Tiscali, reported Italian business journal Milano Finanza.
In March, VimpelCom CEO Alexander Izosimov stated that after merging with Wind Telecom, VimpelCom would not consider any further M&A activity for some time, excepted in the countries where the group already operates, including Italy.
Source: Vedomosti
