Tom Alexander, the former CEO of Everything Everywhere, is putting together a private equity-backed bid for the UK's largest mobile operator, the Financial Times reports. Alexander has held discussions with private equity groups such as Apax and KKR to support the bid, which could exceed EUR 8 billion, according to some analyst valuations. Alexander oversaw the merger of T-Mobile UK and Orange UK, having previously headed Orange in the UK. He left Everything Everywhere last summer, citing a desire to have time off. According to the paper's sources, he has sounded out interest at Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom for the sale. Deutsche Telekom has previously hinted it would be interested in selling its stake, while France Telecom recently suggested an IPO for the business was a possibility. Those close to the discussion caution that talks are at an early stage however, and that a deal of this size could take a long time to structure. One added that there was no certainty that Alexander would be successful in raising sufficient capital given the difficult market conditions. He has been talking to private equity groups since February about a potential deal.
