Vimpelcom Ltd. is in talks to buy Wind, Italy’s No. 3 mobile operator, and 51 percent of Egyptian group Orascom Telecom from tycoon Naguib Sawiris, two sources said Thursday.
The acquisition would mark a major expansion into Asia, Europe and North Africa for Vimpelcom Ltd., formed earlier this year through a merger of Vimpelcom and Ukrainian group Kyivstar.
“The deals suggest a near-doubling of Vimpelcom’s scale at the revenue level and turning it into a truly international player with diversified geographical exposure,” UniCredit Securities analysts said in a note.
(Reuters)