Vodafone Group PLC (LSE:VOD) shares jumped 6.7% after the company confirmed it is exploring options regarding its Italian telecoms unit, Vodafone Italia.
"Vodafone is supportive of in-market consolidation in countries where it is not achieving appropriate returns on invested capital and confirms it is exploring options with several parties to achieve this in Italy, including through a merger or a disposal," it said in a statement.
The statement came after Iliad confirmed it had proposed a merger of the two companies' Italian businesses.
The Paris-based telecommunications company said in a statement on Monday the deal would value Vodafone's Italian arm at €10.45 billion.
Under the proposal, Iliad would pay Vodafone €6.5 billion in cash plus an additional €2 billion in a shareholder loan “to ensure long-term alignment”, Iliad said in a statement.
Iliad Italia and Vodafone Italia would each own 50% of the new venture.
The merged business would be expected to generate revenues of around €5.8 billion and EBITDAaL of approximatively €1.6 billion for the financial year ending March 2024, the statement said.
As part of the transaction, Iliad would have a call option on Vodafone’s equity stake in the new company which, if exercised in full, would generate an additional €1.95 billion in cash for Vodafone.