E& lifts stake in Vodafone, discusses board changes

Vodafone’s biggest shareholder, Emirates Telecommunications Group, has upped its stake in the London-listed firm and opened talks to push for changes on its board.

In a regulatory filing on Monday, Emirates Telecommunications - also known as e& - said it had lifted its stake in Vodafone to 14.6% from 14%.

E& also said in the filing that on 12 April, it decided it was in its best interests, and the interests of Vodafone and its shareholders, for it and its representatives "to be able to engage with" Vodafone and its representatives "on a variety of topics, including topics for which e& may be deemed to be seeking to influence" Vodafone.

On that date, e& initiated preliminary talks with Vodafone in respect of the non-executive composition of its board of directors.