Google eyes 5% stake in Vodafone Idea, multiple India investments: Report

Analysts say deal will be a lifeline for Vodafone Idea, which has been ordered by SC to pay Rs 53,000 crore AGR dues

Global technology giant Google is in talks to buy a 5 per cent stake in Vodafone Idea, owned by Vodafone Plc of the UK and Aditya Birla Group. The move comes about a month after Google’s biggest rival, Facebook, picked up a 9.99 per cent stake in Reliance Industries’ (RIL’s) Jio Platforms for Rs 43,574 crore. 
 
Taking into account Vodafone Idea’s market valuation of Rs 16,724 crore as of Thursday, Google may end up buying the stake for Rs 836 crore. 
 
The Financial Times reported on Thursday that Google’s parent firm, Alphabet, had also held talks with RIL