Vectra and Multimedia Polska, Poland’s second and third largest cable operators, are interested in swapping some of their assets. By doing so, they believe they will strengthen their respective positions in a market that will be even more dominated by UPC following Liberty Global’s takeover of Aster, Poland’s fourth largest operator.
According to a report in Parkiet, Vectra lodged a notification with the Polish Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) at the end of last year of its intention to obtain some of Multimedia Polska’s assets. Having failed in its bid to acquire Aster last month, Vectra stated its intention to expand through organic growth and acquisitions.
Vectra and Multimedia Polska have confirmed their interest in swapping assets, though the latter has denied it plans to leave the lucrative Warsaw market, where UPC Polska/Aster are the leading players but Vectra also has a presence.
Both Vectra and Multimedia Polska started off as small regional operators but grew to become national players. Taken together, they have roughly the same number of subscribers as UPC Polska and Aster combined.
Liberty Global’s acquisition of Aster is expected to close in the first half of this year.
