Orascom, MTN confirm take-over talks

In a statement released recently, Egypt-based Orascom said it “is aware that its parent company, Weather Investments SpA, is in discussions with MTN Group which may or may not lead to a transaction relating to the acquisition or control of Orascom and or its businesses by MTN”.

Earlier on, MTN confirmed that it is in discussions with Weather Investments, the investment vehicle of Orascom chairman Naguib Sawiris, which has a 51 per cent stake in Orascom Telecom.

Orascom has operations in Namibia, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Central African Republic, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt.

Orascom has also asked the Egyptian Exchange to restore trading on its stock, after it was suspended following press speculation about the talks with MTN.

In a further development, Algeria’s government has announced that it is opposing a deal under which South Africa’s MTN Group Limited would acquire the prized Algerian unit of Egypt’s Orascom Telecom, the Telecommunications Ministry said.

“The government is opposed to the planned deal between MTN and Orascom” with regard to the unit, Orascom Telecom Algerie (OTA), also known as Djezzy, the ministry said in a statement.

“Any transaction concerning OTA will be void… and could lead to the withdrawal of the telephone license granted to the company,” it said.