China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd. (CHU) said Monday its wholly owned U.K. unit has indicated interest in providing technical and managerial support to some potential bidders for a stake in Nigerian Telecommunications Ltd., and would be interested in exploring the possibility of equity investment in NITEL subject to certain conditions being fulfilled.

It said in a statement its U.K. unit, China Unicom (Europe) Operations Ltd., hasn't commenced any negotiations on any substantive or legally binding agreements.

The statement comes after China Unicom spokeswoman Sophia Tso said Thursday the telecom operator isn't part of a consortium bidding for a stake in NITEL, after a statement from Nigeria's Bureau of Public Enterprises had said China Unicom was part of a consortium bidding for NITEL.

Chigbo Anichebe, head of public communications at the Nigerian agency, had said in a statement Tuesday that an offer by the New Generations Consortium was the highest bid submitted by five companies that participated for a stake in NITEL and its subsidiary, M-TEL. The agency said China Unicom was part of the New Generations Consortium.

China Unicom also said Monday its parent company isn't in any direct discussions or negotiations with any parties involved in the proposed privatization of NITEL.

-By Lorraine Luk, Dow Jones Newswires; 852-2802-7002;lorraine.luk@dowjones.com
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