Tiscali Denies It Is In Talks For UK Unit Sale

MILAN -(Dow Jones)- A spokeswoman for Italian Internet service provider Tiscali denied "categorically" Monday the company "is in talks with Vodafone Group or any other company for the sale of its U.K. unit."

Tiscali's denial follows a report in The Sunday Telegraph that Tiscali is a potential acquisition target of Vodafone, the U.K. mobile telecom operator.

According to the British newspaper, Vodafone is considering buying a major U.K. Internet service provider and identified Tiscali and Bulldog, a unit of Cable & Wireless, as possible targets.

The report boosted Monday Tiscali's shares, which closed up 10%, or EUR0.26, at EUR2.81, in a market that was down 1%.

-By Marco Fusi of MF-Dow Jones and Serena Saitto, Dow Jones Newswires; +39 0258219 907, serena.saitto@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires "

Posted to the site on 24th April 2006