BT Says U.K. Govt Has Decided to Allow Altice’s Stake Raise to 18%
2022.08.23 09:49
By Geoffrey Smith
Investing.com — French billionaire Patrick Drahi will be allowed by the British government to keep his stake in BT Group (LON:BT) at 18%, the U.K. telecoms group said on Wednesday.
Kwasi Kwarteng, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, had said in May he would exercise his power to review Drahi’s action to raise his stake in the group from 12% for national security implications, effectively giving himself a veto over Drahi’s stakebuilding.
“BT Group has now been notified by the Secretary of State that no further action is to be taken,” the group said.
Drahi’s move had prompted speculation of a possible full takeover bid for a company whose share price has languished in recent years as it has gradually ceded market share in media and broadband provision. Drahi had said at the time that he was “fully supportive” of the current board.
