Swedish telecom firm Telia has shortlisted two Indian telcos to buyout its controlling stake in the Sri Lankan subsidiary, Suntel, officials said on Friday.
India's
Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd and the Tata Group controlled
Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd are among the top suitors actively pursued by Telia, with MTNL recently appointing a consultant to pursue through Suntel's books.
Suntel, a small wireless phone operator, offers telephone and Internet services to over 5,00,000
customers in Sri Lanka.
Its other key shareholders include Townsend of Hong Kong, Sri Lanka's NDB Bank, and International Finance Corporation -- a member of the World Bank Group.
"Four firms have been currently shortlisted as potential buyers," Suntel Chief Executive, Jeremy Huxtable said on Friday.
Others include, Sri Lanka's blue chip conglomerate John Keells Holdings and Malaysia's biggest phone company, Telekom Malaysia.
Telekom currently owns Sri Lanka's biggest mobile phone company, Dialog Telekom.
Suntel posted profits of Rs 886 million for 2006-07.
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