Google eyes stake in Vodafone Idea

MUMBAI: Google Inc is considering picking a stake of about 5% in Vodafone Idea Ltd, said a person aware of the development.

The telecom joint venture of Vodafone Group Plc and the Aditya Birla Group is also in talks with private equity firms for potential investments, the person said on condition of anonymity.

According to the average price of the Vodafone Idea stock in the last two weeks, a 5% stake sale could fetch the company around $101.5 million. The stock has lost more than 57% in the last 12 months. To be sure, an eventual deal could happen at a significant premium to the recent stock price.