STOCKHOLM, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Swedish investment group Investor said on Monday it wants to take part in re-shaping the shareholder structure of truck maker Scania , but this does not necessarily mean a full takeover bid.
Investor already owns 20.4 percent of votes in the world's fifth largest and most profitable truck maker.
"It's a fantastic company and it is important that it get long term and stable ownership," said Fredrik Lindgren, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications at Investor.
He confirmed weekend remarks made by Investor chairman Claes Dahlback that Investor wanted to be part of a "solution" in resolving Scania's upcoming ownership reshuffle.
The ownership structure will change because competitor Volvo has to get rid of its 30.7 percent of Scania votes, which it still holds as a result of a merger attempt three years ago, stopped by the European Commission on competition grounds.
The commission gave Volvo until April 2004 to divest the stake.
"Dahlback is open to looking at different solutions and if there were an opportunity for Investor to participate, he wouldn't mind," Lindgren told Reuters.
However Investor refused to be drawn on what kind of role it would play in any future share ownership changes.
"Dahlback has not given details on whether he wants to buy more shares or sell Investor's share -- or if he is interested in making a bid for the whole company," Lindgren said.
Another large Scania stake owner, Volkswagen which has 34 percent of votes and effective control of the company, has said it is not interested in buying more.
Volvo has applied to the European Commission for an extension of the sale deadline, a request hotly contested by Scania, which is keen to solve the ownership problem hindering its development. Scania will report its third quarter results later on Monday
Volvo has also said it may distribute its shares in Scania to Volvo shareholders.
(Additional reporting Jan Strupczewski)