French billionaire Xavier Niel will become the largest shareholder in Vodafone Group after UAE-based telecommunications group e&A agreed to sell its entire stake in the British company for almost $6 billion.
French billionaire Xavier Niel will become the largest shareholder in Vodafone Group after UAE-based telecommunications group e&A agreed to sell its entire stake in the British company for almost $6 billion.
Vega, a company wholly owned by the Niel family group and created specifically for acquisitions, announced the conclusion of a binding agreement to purchase approximately 16.2% of the shares for about $5.91 billion, The Economic Times reports .
Vega will become Vodafone's largest shareholder immediately after the deal closes and all necessary regulatory approvals are received.
Vodafone Ukraine (PrJSC "VF Ukraine") is the second largest mobile operator in Ukraine, second only to Kyivstar. In addition to fixed-line communications, the telecom company provides high-speed 4G and Internet services. As of 2026, its stable subscriber base will number about 15.4 million users.
Since 2019, Vodafone Ukraine has been fully owned by the international holding company NEQSOL Holding, founded by Azerbaijani businessman Nasib Hasanov.
The Ukrainian operator cooperates with the British office of Vodafone Group within the framework of a strategic partnership (brand franchise, joint technological and infrastructure projects).
The purchase of the third largest mobile operator lifecell and its merger with Datagroup-Volia under the auspices of French billionaire Xavier Niel (through his investment company NJJ Holding) became the loudest and largest deal in Ukrainian telecom since independence. The deal was officially closed on September 9, 2024. The combined structure created as a result of the merger was named DVL Group (Datagroup - Volia - lifecell).
