Vodafone wins wireless bidding war
By CNET News.com Staff
January 15, 1999, 10:25 p.m. ET
Following a two-week bidding war, Britain's Vodafone Group emerges victorious,
acquiring AirTouch Communications for an estimated $56 billion. Bell Atlantic late
Friday called off its talks with the wireless giant, amid concerns that the Baby Bell
may have been biting off more than it could chew. The merged company, with a
combined market capitalization of about $110 billion, will be the largest independent
wireless company in the world.
Vodafone to buy AirTouch for $56
billion
update AirTouch Communications accepts Vodafone
Group's bid of close to $56 billion, ending a bidding war for
the San Francisco-based mobile phone giant.
Bell Atlantic calls off AirTouch talks
The Baby Bell calls off merger discussions with mobile
phone company AirTouch Communications, clearing the
way for an offer made by a British rival.
MCI WorldCom won't bid for AirTouch
The No. 2 long distance company said it won't make a bid
for mobile phone company AirTouch Communications,
following bids by Bell Atlantic and Britain's Vodafone Group.
AirTouch bidding war deflates Internet hype
news analysis Internet IPOs and mergers have made
millions for investors, but the ongoing bidding war over
AirTouch dwarfs even front-page deals like the $4.2 billion
Netscape-AOL merger
Global wireless wars edge closer to home
news analysis Vodafone Group's bid for AirTouch marks a
new step forward in the wireless phone market, a possible
precursor to growing overseas interest in U.S. firms.
Vodafone makes rival bid for AirTouch
update Wireless firm AirTouch Communications confirmed
that Britain's Vodafone Group had made a rival bid to
purchase the company, in an apparent attempt to derail
merger talks between AirTouch and Bell Atlantic.
How big can Bell Atlantic get?
news analysis With more than $100 billion in proposed
mergers on its plate if the company completes a deal with
AirTouch Communications, Bell Atlantic's ambitions may
be starting to strain the company's ability to expand.
Bell Atlantic, AirTouch work on takeover deal
Bell Atlantic said it's in talks with AirTouch
Communications, the largest wireless phone company, and
people familiar with the companies said weekend
negotiations failed to reach a definitive agreement on the
proposed $43 billion stock acquisition.
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