Eircom weighs up sale or IPO

Eircom Group’s advisers have approached some of Europe’s largest private-equity firms as Ireland’s former phone monopoly weighs a sale or a return to the stock market, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Apax Partners LLP, CVC Capital Partners Ltd and KKR & Co LP are among buyout firms that have been approached to form a consortium for the Dublin- based firm, which has changed ownership six times since 1999, said three people who asked not to be identified because the matter is private.

Officials at Eircom, Apax and CVC declined to comment. KKR representatives didn’t immediately respond to e-mails.