Hutchison Whampoa and Telefonica, which owns O2, could confirm this week the terms of a deal that would see Hutchison Whampoa buy O2, creating the largest UK mobile phone operator, according to market sources.
If the terms are the same as those announced when a deal was first mooted, then that could see Hutchison Whampoa paying £9.25bn initially, followed by another £1bn on completion.
Hutchison Whampoa could also confirm it is in talks to sell an up-to £3bn stake in the combined company to a sovereign wealth fund in order to part fund the deal.
