Vittorio Colao, chief executive, Vodafone Group Plc has stated that he will not be forced to offload the company’s minority stakes in four mobile phone operators worldwide, including that in Bharti Airtel. “What we are saying to investors is, but frankly to the whole world is, Vodafone will not be, or at least Vittorio Colao does not want to be, a forced seller,” Colao stated in an interview with Financial Times. According to industry sources, Colao insisted that stake sale in China Mobile was not done in response to investor pressure and has also called on shareholders to be patient about other possible disposals.
Besides a minority stake (4.4 per cent) in Bharti Airtel, Vodafone also has a 45 per cent shareholding in US-based Verizon Wireless, 25 per cent stake in Poland’s Polkomtel and a 44 per cent stake in French firm SFR.
