Vodafone India, Idea Cellular in exploratory merger talks - CNBC TV18
MUMBAI, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Vodafone Group Plc (NasdaqGS: VOD - news) 's Indian arm is in exploratory talks around a possible merger with its smaller domestic rival Idea Cellular (BSE: 532822.BO - news) , according to a CNBC TV18 report on Tuesday, citing unnamed sources.
A spokesman for Vodafone India, India's No. 2 mobile carrier by market share, declined to comment on the report. A spokeswoman for Idea also declined to comment on the matter.
Shares (Berlin: DI6.BE - news) in Idea, the country's No. 3 operator, rose 5.7 percent in afternoon trading following the news.
(Writing by Devidutta Tripathy)