GP seeks stronger footing in data services
Grameenphone aims to become the leader in data and internet-based services and keep up the market's top position, said Oddvar Hesjedal, a day after he was appointed chief executive officer to the company.
"What we are looking for now is not only the voice area but also data services in Bangladesh. That will be our next effort," Hesjedal said at a press conference at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel yesterday.
Hesjedal also reiterated the company's stand to come to capital market by the first quarter of next year. Grameenphone had resubmitted a primary application for IPO (initial public offering) of $75 million to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Also, it plans to raise $50 million prior to the IPO in private placement with institutional investors.
While the new CEO focused on the future plan, outgoing CEO Anders Jensen termed Bangladesh a "place of opportunity".
"We have gone through stormy waters over the last years. But the positive things by far overweigh the negative ones," Jensen said.
"Under those circumstances, I felt nice to work with GP as I had a strong team."
Hesjedal officially took the reins of the country's mobile operator yesterday. "We are committed to do what we always have been doing: that is to provide the best mobile services to the people of Bangladesh," he said.
In July, Grameenphone made its plan to raise $300 million (Tk 2,058 crore) -- $150 million from the stock market and the rest in private placement or pre-IPO.
Grameenphone's fresh IPO plan is much smaller than it was initially planned.
Comments