Mr Denis O'Brien's eIsland consortium reached the next stage in its bid for eircom after the two sides signed a confidentiality agreement, an eIsland spokesman said today.
"In terms of moving it on, both sides are willing to sit down and talk a bit more if they have signed a confidentiality agreement," he said.
Eircom shares opened today at euro 2.50, from a euro 2.55 close on Friday. Vodafone, which fell 4 per cent to its lowest close in two years on Friday, was trading up 2p at £2.18p at noon today.
Reuters
