1442 GMT - Vodafone Group is among the most mentioned companies across news items over the past six hours, according to Factiva data, after the company rejected a revised proposal to merge its Italian businesses with Iliad Group's. Under the new proposal, Vodafone would get 6.6 billion euros ($7.16 billion) in cash and EUR2.0 billion of shareholder loan while Iliad would get EUR400 million of cash and EUR2.0 billion of shareholder loan. Vodafone said that it is no longer in talks with Iliad, but talks with other parties continue. The news is disappointing for both Vodafone and the sector, Citi analyst Georgios Ierodiaconou wrote in a note. He added that "a deal with Swisscom's Fastweb could now become the base case--an inferior outcome in our view." Shares are down 2.31% at 67.16 pence. Dow Jones & Co. owns Factiva. (najat.kantouar@wsj.com)


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

01-31-24 0957ET