Tiscali sets deadline for UK takeover bids

Tiscali has set a 5 May deadline for people interested in buying its UK internet business. As previously reported, Carphone Warehouse, Sky, BT and Orange are all reportedly interested in acquiring the ISP. Vodafone are also reportedly interested in bidding, and may bid to buy both Tiscali's UK and Italian operations - it already has a broadband business in Italy which it may look to expand, and a Tiscali purchase would enable them to launch themselves in the UK broadband market for the first time. Tiscali bosses are known to be keen to keep their European business together as a whole, so Vodafone's two country bid may prove attractive.