Hutchison's 3 readying bid for loser of BT's UK deal - sources - RTRS
(Reuters) - Hutchison Whampoa 0013.HK, the owner of Britain's fourth largest mobile operator 3 Group, is readying a bid for one of its rivals EE or O2, depending on which is left out of a tie-up with fixed line operator BT Group, said several sources familiar with the matter.
Hutchison is working on the deal with an advisory boutique, said the sources.
The Chinese player could table a bid for either EE or Telefonica's O2 by the end of the year as BT is expected to decide on a deal in the coming weeks, said the people who asked not to be named because the talks are private.
Hutchison was not immediately available for comment.