Telkom has received a non-binding offer from Oger Telecom, the group said on Tuesday.
Telkom, which owns 50% of South Africa’s biggest cellphone operator Vodacom, said it is continuing a review of its mobile strategy but added that it was not presently in discussions with Oger.
”While Telkom is not presently in discussions with Oger, the board of Telkom will consider the Oger approach along with other alternatives as part of the review,” Telkom said in a statement.
Telkom gave no further details but Oger Telecom chief executive officer Paul Doany told reporters in Istanbul late on Monday that the group wanted to buy into Telkom.
Talks between Telkom and cellphone operator MTN over the sale of Telkom’s fixed-line business were called off in November, also ending Telkom’s hopes of selling its Vodacom stake to joint owner Vodafone.
Telkom said talks to sell part of its cellphone assets to British-based Vodafone, the world’s largest cellphone company by revenue, had hinged on a successful deal to sell all or some of its fixed-line assets to compatriot MTN.
Oger already has a majority stake in South Africa’s third-biggest mobile operator Cell C.
Oger CEO Doany said the offer submitted was in the best interest of Telkom and Cell C and the group hoped to see progress on this soon.
Telkom shares closed 7,4% higher at R135 in Johannesburg. – Reuters