The Czech company PPF Investments is becoming an increasingly important player in Ukraine’s cable industry.
According to AKTR and Kommersant, its Ukrainian subsidiary Odeko has been given official approval to buy the cable operator serving the city of Lutsk in the north west of the country.
PPF Investments established Lviv-based Odeko in 2007 and has since invested what experts believe to at least $50 million (€36.7 million) in acquiring over 20 small telecom companies, including cable operators and ISPs. Its assets are mostly located in the west of Ukraine.
PPF Investments’ main shareholder is Peter Kellner, who also has a minority stake in CME. The latter, which has interests in six CEE countries, was a major player in Ukraine through the national commercial broadcaster Studio 1+1 before pulling out of the country in 2009.
Ukraine’s cable industry is dominated by Volia, which is backed by Providence equity Partners.