December 15 (SeeNews) - Croatian wireless operator Vipnet is in talks to acquire local alternative carrier Metronet Telekomunikacije in a bid to enter the fixed-line segment, Zagreb-based media reported.
A due diligence is in progress while a preliminary acquisition offer has already been tabled, local daily Business (www.business.hr) reported earlier this week, quoting unnamed sources.
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The daily said both companies declined to comment.
Business values Metronet at more than 450 million kuna, less than its total liabilities which amounted to 594 million kuna at the end of September.
Metronet's EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) totalled 42.9 million kuna through September.
Metronet (www.metronet.hr) was set up in May 2005 with a primary focus on business customers. It offers fixed-line voice and broadband Internet services in the country of 4.4 million people.
Vipnet (www.vipnet.hr), part of Telekom Austria Group, is Croatia's second largest mobile carrier with a market share of 43.6% by end-September.
(1 euro = 7.3951 Croatian kuna)