Wind owner eyes 3 Italia, Tiscali -report

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Tue Jul 21, 2009 4:17am EDT

(Adds missing word 'IPO' in second bullet point)

* Wind's owner Sawiris says interested in Tiscali -report

* Sees possible Weather Investment IPO in 2010 -report

(Adds further reports)

MILAN, July 21 (Reuters) - Italian mobile phone operator Wind is ready to evaluate a possible merger with Hutchison Whampoa's (0013.HK) 3 Italia telecoms unit, Wind owner Naguib Sawiris said in an interview on Tuesday in Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

Egyptian businessman Sawiris was also quoted as saying by another Italian paper, Finanza & Mercati, that he was still interested in buying Italian internet company Tiscali (TIS.MI).

A source close to Sawiris confirmed his interest in Tiscali.

Wind was not available to comment.

In May, Tiscali reached a 630 million euro ($892 million) framework debt deal and a three-stage capital increase of up to 262 million euros, after agreeing to sell British assets to Carphone Warehouse (CPW.L) for 236 million pounds ($388 million).

On 3 Italia, Sawiris told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera: "If they think a merger with Wind would be opportune, we would be ready to consider the possibility."

Sawiris said 3 Italia chief executive Vincenzo Novari seemed to intend to go ahead alone, however. "I may have some doubts they can make it, but I respect the choice," he said.

Sawiris, chairman of Egyptian telecoms operator Orascom (ORTE.CA), also said he intended to list Wind's holding company Weather Investments on the Milan bourse in 2010 or 2011, newspaper Finanza & Mercati said.

Tiscali shares were up 7.7 percent at 0.3015 euro at 0804 GMT.

(Reporting by Danilo Masoni and Claudia Cristoferi Ciaramidaro; Editing by Dan Lalor)

($1 = 0.7063 euro = 0.6087 pound)

((danilo.masoni@thomsonreuters.com; +39 02 661 29 734; Reuters Messaging: danilo.masoni.thomsonreuters@reuters.net)) Keywords: WIND REPORT/

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