Stofa abandons cable merger plan

Danish cable operator Stofa has abandoned its planned acquisition of Telenor-owned Canal Digital Cable TV in Denmark as a result of opposition to the deal from the country’s competition regulator.

Stofa’s owner Ratos and Telenor jointly agreed to give up on the deal, which was originally agreed in January, after discussions with the regulator failed to bear fruit. Ratos CEO Arne Karlsson said the outcome was “disappointing”.

Stofa serves about 350,000 households with cable TV and about 40% of these with broadband. Services are delivered in most cases in collaboration with local antenna associations, but Stofa also serves a number of customers direct with digital pay TV, broadband and telephony. services.