By Lucas van Grinsven, European Technology Correspondent
PARIS (Reuters) - Liberty Global (LBTYA.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), the world's biggest international cable group, hopes to increase its stake in its Japanese operations and expects a deal there soon, its chief executive said on Wednesday.
Liberty Global is also looking to expand in emerging markets, possibly including India and China, Mike Fries told the Reuters Technology, Media and Telecoms Summit in Paris.
"We're happy with the way the Japanese operation is run. The issue is more about corporate structure. We might be able to improve upon the structural legacies to make the asset more valuable for our shareholders," Fries said.
"Be patient, it won't be long," he added.
Liberty Global indirectly owns 37 percent of Japanese cable firm Jupiter Telecommunications Co (4817.Q: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) -- working with Sumitomo Corp (8053.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) -- and 35 percent of a programming business, mainly a shopping channel.
"We're exploring alternatives with respect to both. We would much rather own more of the cable business than less. We think the cable operation is a strong business and we are not sellers of that," Fries said.
"Programming is less strategic and we'd look at alternatives," he added, declining to elaborate.
Liberty Global is active in 17 countries, and it has recently sold activities in mature markets and expanded in less developed cable TV markets such as eastern Europe. Continued...
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