CNBC: T-Mobile receives $15 billion bid for 56.6% of the company from French telecom Iliad

Shares of T-Mobile and Sprint were halted briefly on Thursday, amid speculation that Sprint was announcing its long-awaited bid for its rival. Instead, a surprise bid was made by French telecommunications giant Iliad. The company offered to buy 56.6% of T-Mobile for $15 billion. That works out to $33 a share.



Sprint reportedly has agreed with T-Mobile on a transaction that would value the entire company at $32 billion. That deal would come with a $2 billion break-up fee, and would require $45 billion in financing. Most importantly, it would keep John Legere as CEO of the upstart carrier.



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