Vodafone’s biggest shareholder UAE’s e& ups stake to 14%

Vodafone’s biggest shareholder UAE’s e& ups stake to 14%

Vodafone’s shares have fallen 15 per cent since e& first invested, as the London-listed group has struggled to improve weak performance in three out of its four biggest European markets

Shares in Vodafone rose 0.8 per cent in early deals on Tuesday.

By Reuters Published: Tue 28 Feb 2023, 5:45 PM

The UAE-based telecoms group e& has increased its stake in Vodafone to 14 per cent, saying its rationale was unchanged from May 2022 when it bought a 9.8 per cent stake to “enhance and develop its international portfolio”.

Vodafone’s shares have fallen 15 per cent since e& first invested, as the London-listed group has struggled to improve weak performance in three out of its four biggest European markets, resulting in the departure of its chief executive in December.

This month Liberty Global bought a near five per cent stake in Vodafone, describing it as an opportunistic investment and stating it would not seek a board seat or mount a takeover bid.

Liberty Global CEO Mike Fries said Vodafone’s share price did not reflect the underlying value of the business and its opportunities for consolidation.

French telecoms tycoon Xavier Niel bought a 2.5 per cent stake in Vodafone in September. He said he was ready to advise