The following is excerpted from the question-and-answer section of the transcript.
(Questions from industry analysts are provided in full, but answers are omitted - download the transcript to see the full question-and-answer session)
Question: Frank Maa° - DNB Markets, Research Division - Analyst
: I just wanted to elaborate a little bit on the future outlook for Telenor in Asia, given this. Clearly, you've had for many years, a well-known strategy,
which was -- used to be called control or exit and that hasn't been perhaps reiterated in that same wording for a while. But given this deal, probably
assume that this implies with the current or proposed ownership would imply then a deconsolidation of Digi and the continuation of the operations
in the form of being an associated companies in Telenor's accounts. How do you view your ability to control and manage ESG risks and so on and
being in control of operations, given this new situation? And does -- do you see still -- is the control or exit strategy still valid? Or is that more of a
historic thing in the past? Could you please update us on your thoughts on this and how this could potentially then also have implications for other
-- how do you think about some of the other consolidation opportunities in Asia and the Asian footprint overall, really?
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APRIL 08, 2021 / 7:00AM, TEL.OL - Telenor ASA and Axiata Group Bhd Advanced Discussions to Merge
Malaysian Operations Call
Question: Frank Maa° - DNB Markets, Research Division - Analyst
: Well, thanks for that. It might be then the last element of the question with regards to kind of the overall picture in Asia, whether you see this kind
of associated company structures perhaps us opening up for more parts of ownership and deconsolidations of more operations in Asia. And to
what extent this could really open up for partial exits or some of these operations over time? Or -- yes, that's basically in the light of the old control
or exit strategy. But...
Question: Johanna Ahlqvist - SEB, Research Division - Analyst
: Yes. Johanna Ahlqvist from SEB. A short question on regulatory approval. I'm just wondering how certain you are to get regulatory approval, given
the 40% market share of the combined entity on the mobile side? And I'm just wondering how this process works. So have you been in discussions
with the regulator already now? Or is it something that you will start presenting as of today? Or how is that process developing?
Question: Usman Ghazi - Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co. KG, Research Division - Analyst
: A very quick one from me, this, on the -- I mean, I understand that the towers, mobile towers that Digi owns is part of this transaction, but I just
wanted to understand if the towers that Celcom owns, whether that is part of the new entity because I'm aware that Axiata holds the towers within
edotco. So if you could clarify which towers this new entity will be owning or not?
Question: Usman Ghazi - Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co. KG, Research Division - Analyst
: Perfect. And I guess given Axiata's interest in this edotco at a separate time, I mean, is it important for the towers at Digi to be within this Newco?
Or are you agnostic for this Newco to be owning towers or not?
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