Poste Italiane Now Runs Telecom Italia, and Deals Could Follow

Telecom Italia was privatized nearly 30 years ago.

Photographer: Francesca Volpi/Bloomberg
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After a decade under French control, Telecom Italia SpA now has an Italian state-backed group as its top investor — and it’s one that wants to foster mergers and acquisitions in the telecoms market.

Postal service Poste Italiane SpA this weekend became the phone company’s biggest shareholder with a holding of nearly 25%, after purchasing the majority of a stake held by French media conglomerate Vivendi SE. Poste says the deal will support industry consolidation.