Jaakko Pöyry Group Oyj has subscribed thirty per cent of the shares in Star Communications Oy, a company specialising in consulting services and network planning for the telecommunications sector. The shares were subscribed in a targeted share issue completed on June 12, 2000, reducing the main shareholder’s Helsingin Puhelin Oyj’s (as of July 1, 2000 Elisa Communications Oyj) ownership to 70 per cent.
Jaakko Pöyry Group Oyj has redirected the strategy of its Infrastructure & Environment business group, selecting the telecommunications sector as one of the business group’s main growth areas. Jaakko Pöyry Group Oyj has carried out about one hundred telecommunications projects around the world, most recently e.g. in Switzerland, Spain and the United States. In these projects, Jaakko Pöyry Group Oyj has typically been responsible for project management, site acquisition, permitting, design and construction management. Star Communications Oy is intended to supplement Jaakko Pöyry Group Oyj’s service package in the areas of network planning and network integration. Jaakko Pöyry Group Oyj aims to expand its telecommunications business within the next few years and to be able to offer turn-key deliveries of telecommunications networks to operators and equipment suppliers. For project implementation services Jaakko Pöyry Group Oyj will rely on the resources of its global network of offices in 34 countries and the Group’s experience of project implementation work in more than 100 countries.
Star Communications Oy specialises in consulting services and network planning for the telecommunications sector. The total value of the world telecommunications market is estimated at about EUR 1000 million. The value of the sector served by Star Communications Oy is about EUR 3 billion and it is estimated to grow by more than 20 per cent a year.
Mr Gunnulf Mårtenson has been appointed President of Star Communications Oy. He has most recently been employed by e.g. Oy Omnitele Ab, Swedtel AB, Nokia Telecommunications Ltd., the World Bank and Finnet International Oy. As an employee incentive, Helsingin Puhelin Oyj is prepared to sell to the company’s management and key personnel a ten per cent unit share of its shareholding. Following this sale, which is to be completed at a later date, Helsingin Puhelin Oyj will hold 60 per cent in Star Communications Oy, Jaakko Pöyry Group Oyj 30 per cent and key personnel 10 per cent.
Chairman of the Board of Star Communications Oy is Ilpo Aarni, Senior Vice President, Research and Business Development of Helsingin Puhelin Oyj, with Vesa-Pekka Silaskivi, Senior Vice President, Corporate Planning of Helsingin Puhelin Oyj and TeuvoSalminen, Executive Vice President of Jaakko Pöyry Group Oyj, as members.
JAAKKO PÖYRY GROUP OYJ
Erkki Pehu-Lehtonen
Teuvo Salminen