The five private equity owners of TDC will scoop a total of more than €5bn ($6bn) after the Danish telecoms company announced a Dkr43.5bn (€5.8bn) dividend. They bought control of the firm four months ago for €13bn in Europe's largest buyout.

The consortium, comprising Apax Partners, The Blackstone Group, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, Permira and Providence Equity Partners, holds 88.2% of TDC's shares, and will therefore be entitled to €5.1bn of the dividend, a spokesman for TDC confirmed.