Germany’s third-largest cable operator Tele Columbus has confirmed that it considers a flotation on the stock market.
Tele Columbus would constantly evaluate all strategic options for positioning and financing in the medium and long run, the company said in a statement. One of the possible options would be to examine the advantages a stock market listing – compared with other options – could provide for the company, shareholders and creditors in future.
A decision has, however, not been made yet, according to the statement. No further details were given.
According to a report by news agency Reuters which refers to two people familiar with the plan, Tele Columbus has picked Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan as the lead banks to organise the IPO on the Frankfurt stock exchange.
Tele Columbus which is in the hands of its former creditors achieved a turnover of €224 million and an operative profit of €90 million last year. It serves 1.7 million customers, mainly in the Eastern part of Germany.
For the owners, among them several hedge funds, it’s the second attempt to exit Tele Columbus. The sale to market leader Kabel Deutschland failed last year following concerns by the German cartel office. In May 2014, it emerged that a stock market listing is now being looked into.