Vodafone, EE reportedly eyeing Phones 4U acquisition

Just days after the collapse of mobile-phone retailer Phones 4U, Vodafone and EE have reportedly held talks with the administrator over potential purchases of parts of the company.

The two networks operators, which contributed to the retailer going into administration after not renewing their contracts, have spoken separately to Pricewaterhousecoopers about buying up some stores, staff and stock, according to the Financial Times.

A Vodafone spokesman reportedly said: "We can confirm that we have been approached by the administrators of the Phones4U business. We will not be commenting on the detail of those discussions.”

High street electrical and mobile-phone retailer Dixons Carphone is also said to be in talks with the group, the paper said.

The moves could offer hope for some of the 6,000-strong workforce and 550 stores nationwide.

Phones 4U owner BC Partners, which bought the chain for around £600m in 2011, announced on Sunday that it would have to seek creditor protection for the business, saying that the abrupt end of its contracts allowed "no time to develop commercial alternatives".

According to Sky News, as recently as two months ago Vodafone and EE had both discussed a possible joint takeover of Phones 4U.