Vodafone exposes Infostrada to Wind of change

Italian telco Wind has entered negotiations to buy Vodafone-owned Infostrada - Italy's second largest fixed line operator.

Wind, jointly-owned by Italian utility Enel and France Telecom, is expected to pay around E11.5bn (£7bn) to complete the deal. The Italian government authorities are known to favour Infostrada being sold back into Italian hands. Vodafone acquired Infostrada through its £113bn takeover of Mannesman earlier this year and has already rejected a E9.5bn (£5.8bn) bid from Albacom.