STOCKHOLM, Sweden, May 28, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Tele2 AB, ("Tele2," "the Group") (Nasdaq:TLTOA) (Nasdaq:TLTOB) (Stockholmsborsen: TEL2A and TEL2B), the leading alternative pan-European telecommunications company and Star Capital Partners have made an offer to purchase the Italian mobile operator Blu.
Tele2's role is as technical and industrial partner, utilising the mobile expertise the company has acquired in operating mobile networks in eleven European countries and the company does not anticipate making a significant investment. Tele2's intention is to become a Mobile Virtual Network Operator on the Blu network, allowing both the company and Blu to capitalise on Tele2's existing success in the Italian fixed telephony market.
Tele2 AB, formed in 1993, is the leading alternative pan-European telecommunications company offering fixed and mobile telephony, data network and Internet services under the brands Tele2, Tango and Comviq to 15.8 million people in 21 countries. Tele2 operates Datametrix, which specializes in systems integration, 3C Communications, operating public pay telephones and public Internet services; Transac, providing billing and transaction processing services; C^3, offering co-branded pre-paid calling cards and Optimal Telecom, the price-guaranteed residential router device. The Group offers cable television services under the Kabelvision brand name and together with MTG, owns the Internet portal Everyday.com. The Company is listed on the Stockholmsborsen, under TEL2A and TEL2B, and on the Nasdaq Stock Market under TLTOA and TLTOB.
Star Capital Partners (SCP) is a London-based private equity fund backed by The Royal Bank of Scotland and Banco Santander, investing in strategic assets in Western Europe. Star Capital Partners is regulated by IMRO.
CONTACTS:
Tele2 AB
Lars-Johan Jarnheimer President and CEO, Tele2 AB Telephone: + 46 8 562 640 00
Andrew Best, Investor and Media Relations Telephone: +44 (0)7798 576378
Star Capital Partners Ltd
Stephen Wright, Managing Director, Star Capital Partners Ltd Telephone: +44 20 7016 8500
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