Market Chatter: Vodafone, KKR-Backed Oak and Ardian Explore Inwit Buyout Deal

05:21 AM EDT, 10/12/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Vodafone (VOD) and KKR (KKR), along with other Oak Holdings 1 investors, are securing financing for a potential buyout of minority shareholders in Inwit, Reuters reported Sunday, citing two people familiar with the matter. Oak Holdings 1 and French private equity firm Ardian, which own 39% and 32% of Inwit, respectively, are discussing financing with banks, while Abu Dhabi's Mubadala is expected to take a stake in the company as part of the plan, according to the report. The potential deal comes amid a contract dispute with Inwit's main customers, Telecom Italia and Swisscom's Fastweb, which are seeking to renegotiate terms, Reuters added. In a statement emailed to MT Newswires, Inwit said it had no information on the reported potential transaction and was unable to comment. KKR declined to comment, while Vodafone said it was not commenting on the story. Ardian, GIP, and Mubadala did not immediately respond to MT Newswires' request for comment. (Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)