Xavier Niel buys Vodafone stake from e& for $6 billion

Xavier Niel agreed to buy e&'s stake in Vodafone for $6 billion, making him Vodafone's largest shareholder, according to a report published on July 3, 2025.

TL;DR

• Xavier Niel agreed to acquire e&'s Vodafone stake for $6 billion.
• The deal makes Niel Vodafone's top shareholder.
• Analysts said Niel may seek greater influence over Vodafone's strategy.

Economic Times, citing the transaction, reported that UAE telecom group e& sold its stake in Vodafone to French businessman Xavier Niel for $6 billion. The report said the transaction makes Niel the largest shareholder in Vodafone.

NewStreet Research said in a note that Xavier Niel's usual approach is to buy and hold stakes, seek influence over company strategy, and potentially move toward full control over time. The report attributed that assessment to analysts and did not state that Niel had announced any such plan for Vodafone.

The source report did not provide additional operational details about Vodafone, e&, or any changes to Vodafone's services following the transaction. The reported significance of the deal is the ownership change and Niel's new position as Vodafone's top shareholder.

Related questions

• How much did Xavier Niel pay for the Vodafone stake?
• Who sold the Vodafone stake to Xavier Niel?
• What does the deal mean for Vodafone's shareholder structure?