Telecom Italia S.p.A. (BIT:TIT) said preparatory activities for its decisions on Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P.'s (NYSE:KKR) offers for its network assets are continuing after investors pushed back against the plan and called for the removal of Chief Executive Pietro Labriola. The Italian telecommunications company confirmed over the weekend that it received communication from Merlyn Advisors and RN Capital Partner and that the document will be submitted to its board of directors, which will meet on Nov.

3, 2023. Merlyn Advisors and RN Capital Partner said in an open letter published October 27, 2023 that Telecom Italia should retain the whole network--including its Sparkle and FiberCop businesses--, as well as restructure, carve out and sell its consumer arm and sell its Brazilian business among other proposals. They also encouraged Telecom Italia's board to remove Labriola.

Merlyn Partners, a Luxembourg-based fund managed by Merlyn Advisors, represents a group of shareholders of Telecom Italia owning shares of the company below 3%, according to the letter. In response, Telecom Italia said the project to sell its so-called NetCo business is in line with a plan unanimously approved by its board. The company said its board will discuss offers submitted by the private-equity group earlier this month at meetings scheduled for Nov.

3, 2023 and 5, 2023.