Rumors of corporate takeovers are nothing new. Yet, word of a potential takeover of wireless communications company Vodafone (NASDAQ:VOD) was on the rise. In fact, the word was sufficient to push shares upward for most of the day, and shares are still up fractionally right now.
Reports suggest that Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) has been brought in as a potential acquirer. Meanwhile, another report suggests that the deal is likely still on, but it’s Jefferies that will be handling it instead. While no one is sure just who it is planning to pick up Vodafone, or if it will be picked up at all, the fact that two different investment firms are named in doing the job does lend it some credence.
A New Network
While this is an interesting point to keep in mind, it’s still largely speculative right now. Much less speculative, meanwhile, is Vodafone’s recent joint project with Samsung (GB:SMSN) and Dell (NASDAQ:DELL) in Romania. The two got one step closer to an open radio access network (RAN), bringing out a commercial rollout for open RAN in the country. Samsung will offer up the radio and baseband units, while Dell will supply PowerEdge servers. Vodafone has previously been seen setting up other RAN trials in locations throughout Europe.
Is Vodafone a Buy, Sell, or Hold?
Turning to Wall Street, a look at the last five days in trading for VOD stock shows that it’s largely been downhill until today. A loss two days ago was compounded by a loss going into today before the news of a potential buyout hit that sent shares spiking. A lot of those gains were lost, but it kept enough to get it basically back to the level it was at two days prior.
