Denmark's TDC to pay $1 bln in interim dividends

COPENHAGEN Dec 17 (Reuters) - Danish telecom group TDC (TDC.CO) will pay shareholders an interim dividend of 30.25 crowns per share for a total payout of 5.99 billion crowns ($1.08 billion), the company said on Thursday. "Following this interim dividend, the board of directors does not expect to recommend any ordinary dividend for the fiscal year 2009 to the shareholders at the annual general meeting 2010," TDC A/S said in a statement.

Payment of the dividend will take place on Dec. 23, the company said.

TDC is widely tipped as a candidate to carry out a large offering of shares in 2010, as its private equity owners have been reported to be preparing a sale.

Last month, TDC said it would merge with its majority owner Nordic Telephone Company (NTC), which is holds 87.9 percent of the stock. The merger was seen as a further sign that its owners were preparing a flotation of TDC. [ID:nGEE5AP1VP]

NTC is a consortium of private equity firms Apax Partners, the Blackstone Group (BX.N), Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) [KKR.UL], Permira Advisers [PERM.UL] and Providence Equity.

(Reporting by John Acher)