About
Subscribe

MTN to challenge Celtel deal

Tracy Burrows
By Tracy Burrows, ITWeb contributor.
Johannesburg, 19 Apr 2005

MTN has applied to English courts for access to documents from Celtel International, after a Kuwaiti firm snapped up Celtel from under the noses of South African investors.

The South African investors` hopes of exposure to the African mobile communications markets were dashed three weeks ago, when Kuwaiti firm MTC bought African cellular operator Celtel for $3.4 billion (R19.6 billion).

Celtel, which holds GSM licences in 13 African countries, was planning a dual London and Johannesburg listing later this year. However, MTC snapped up the African mobile communications group in a move that took one of its major investors, private equity fund Actis, by surprise.

MTN said in a statement yesterday that it had made an application to the English courts seeking disclosure of certain documents from Celtel and Dr Mohamed Ibrahim, Celtel`s chairman and a major shareholder.

MTN believes that binding undertakings were given in favour of MTN`s $2.67 million bid for Celtel last month - before the sale to the Kuwaitis was announced.

Related story:
Kuwaitis snap up Celtel

Share