Consolidation underway as many predicted. ----- Last Week MTN in talks to buy Orascom operations - report Friday 23 April 2010 | 08:28 AM CET Middle East and Africa mobile operator MTN has approached banks for USD 5 billion to help fund the possible acquisition of at least four units from Orascom Telecom, reports Bloomberg citing three people familiar with plan. The acquisition may include Orascom's activities in Egypt, Algeria, Zimbabwe and Tunisia, and the total transaction might be worth as much as USD 10 billion, said two sources, who did not want to be identified because the talks were private. The fourth source familiar with the plan said talks were still at an early stage and might not lead to a transaction. Separately the Financial Times reported on similar talks, saying MTN is considering buying most of Orascom's African assets, including Algeria, Tunisia, Burundi, Central African Republic, Namibia and Zimbabwe. However it's not interested in the the minority stake in Egyptian operator Mobinil. MTN declined to comment. Today ..... http://in.reuters.com/article/technology-media-telco-SP/idINLDE63Q2GQ2010042...