TalkTalk might have attracted interest from Iliad
TalkTalk [LON:TALK], a UK-based telecoms group, may have attracted takeover interest from the French mobile operator Iliad [EPA:ILD], according to The Times. The newspaper’s market report section did not cite a source for what it described as recent speculation.
As previously reported, the entrepreneur Xavier Niel is the controlling shareholder in Iliad.
A market report in the Financial Times also noted speculation that Iliad might be eyeing TalkTalk. The article did not cite a source for the speculation but cited analyst who argued that regulatory constraints on TalkTalk expanding its mobile business could be loosened should Iliad enter the UK market.
A Daily Mail market report also mentioned market gossip that TalkTalk may not be independent much longer and tipped Vodafone [LON:VOD] as a potential acquirer.
TalkTalk’s share price closed 12.9p up at 215.9p in London yesterday, 27 January, valuing the company at GBP 2.06bn (EUR 2.69bn).