VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Europe's major antitrust regulator has opened an "in-depth investigation" on Hutchison's $14 billion acquisition of Telefonica UK's O2 operations. According to The Wall Street Journal, top European Union officials have been warning that mobile-phone mergers in concentrated markets can lead to higher prices and less options for consumers.

Spain's Telefonica (TEF.MC) said it had finalised a deal to sell its British mobile business O2 to Li Ka-shing's Hutchison Whampoa (0013.HK) for 10.25 billion pounds ($15.2 billion), confirming details announced earlier this year.

AT&T Inc (T.N) said on Monday it would buy bankrupt NII Holdings Inc's (NIHDQ.PK) wireless business in Mexico for $1.875 billion in a move to create a larger Mexican wireless player that will have a better chance of competing with No. 1 America Movil (AMXL.MX).

Telefonica (TEF.MC) has agreed to sell its British unit O2 to Hutchison Whampoa Ltd (0013.HK) in a deal valued at more than 10 billion pounds ($15 billion), a source with direct knowledge of the operation said on Thursday.

Hutchison Whampoa (0013.HK), owner of Britain's fourth-largest mobile operator Three, is in talks with Telefonica (TEF.MC) about buying its O2 network, the Sunday Times reported, citing unnamed city sources.

EE's German and French owners confirmed on Wednesday they were in talks to sell Britain's biggest mobile network operator to BT (BT.L) as part of a wider review of its options. Fixed-line operator BT said on Monday it was in talks with both Telefonica's (TEF.MC) O2 and a rival operator about buying a mobile business.

AT&T Inc agreed to pay $1.7 billion to acquire Mexico's third-largest wireless operator, Iusacell, as it seeks to grab a slice of a market with lower cellular penetration than the United States and faster potential growth.

Mexico's America Movil SAB, Spain's Telefonica SA and Brazil's Grupo Oi SA agreed to place a bid for and to break up TIM Participações SA (TIMP3.SA), Brazil's second-largest wireless carrier, Folha de S. Paulo reported on Friday without saying how it obtained the information.

French media group Vivendi has finalised an agreement to sell its Brazilian broadband business GVT to Spain's Telefonica for cash and shares worth around 7.2 billion euros ($9.29 billion), the companies announced on Friday.

Orange has offered buy Spanish telecoms operator Jazztel for around 3.4 billion euros (4.40 billion US dollar), a deal that could help the French company jump ahead of rival Vodafone in the country's mobile market.

Mexico's Grupo Salinas said on Wednesday its chairman will buy out its partner Grupo Televisa's (TLVACPO.MX) 50 percent stake in the country's No. 3 wireless operator Iusacell for $717 million and seek a strategic partner to build up the carrier.

French media company Vivendi (VIV.PA) picked Telefonica (TEF.MC) for exclusive talks over the sale of its Brazilian broadband unit GVT, spurning a rival bid from Telecom Italia (TLIT.MI).

The battle over Brazil's telecoms market intensified on Thursday as European competitors Telecom Italia and Telefonica made rival offers for Vivendi's Brazilian broadband business GVT.

The battle over Brazil's telecoms market is heating up, with the country's biggest fixed-line firm Oi signaling it may make an offer for Telecom Italia's local mobile business.

Naguib Sawiris has been looking at a potential investment in Telecom Italia, his latest attempt after failing to get hold of stake two years ago, reported Ventures Africa.