i was wondering if anyone out there had any strong views? this company appears to be delivering and has just turned EBITA positive after a great trading statement last week. seems like upside to +200p once results are out.

any comments or thoughts would be appreciated.

cheers, and they move yet higher..press tomorrow?

Quid bid sounded catchy! 102 bid sounds better though. I would imagine the ofcom news will receive some press. This news has came at a good time for us though with the results and meeting on Friday. I wonder what the analysts will make of it all? A move up to around 115 from looking at the chart?

Seems Fidelity have been buying, added another 1.9m ish.

http://www.companyannouncements.net/cgi-bin/articles/200509071550129668Q.html

Early progress was registered today in Easynet, 7p higher at 112p, amid talk that the high-speed internet provider could be a bid target. Market chatter has it that OneTel, Centrica's telecommunications division, is considering a cash offer of 130p a share.

Easynet, which is expected to announce solid half-year numbers tomorrow, has close ties with OneTel. OneTel recently chose Easynet as its broadband internet supplier for the next three years.

Easynet Bid Rumours

all bodes well. off a bit at the moment but results tomorrow...

Indeed. It seems the same rumour is appearing in a few papers today. And it got a brief mention in the Express.

From the Guardian:

Eyes on Easynet

Keep an eye on Easynet, the high-speed internet provider. That was the word in the Square Mile yesterday as its shares hit a seven-month high in brisk trading.

Easynet is expected to announce solid half-year figures tomorrow, however, and traders said the buying had been triggered by rumours of a takeover bid. The word in the market was that OneTel, Centrica's telecommunications division, is considering a cash offer of 130p a share.

Analysts noted that the two firms know each other well. Six weeks ago, OneTel, which claims to have 1.7 million customers in the UK, chose Easynet as its broadband internet supplier for the next three years. Easynet shares, at 70p in June, closed 6p higher at 105p.

Guardian

130p ...i'd take it!

Do you think they would accept a bid around the 130 mark?

they may be forced to if no white knight....

A bidding war would be nice! But it could all just be froth, seems to be lots of takeover talk going around just now. Guess we'll just have to wait and see how it pans out. Charts looking really good just now, 200dma moving up and 50 dma crossing over it.

all in the results tomorrow...have a look at CSB - quality!

That turned out to be a good one for you, well done!

well, still in it but i think it has legs to 100p

NewsOpinionConsultancyAboutinformitv news
13 October 2005 Prev | Index

BSkyB billion pound bond ambition to buy into broadband
UK satellite broadcaster BSkyB is considering raising up to a billion pounds in a bond issue, with reports that it could be used to buy into the broadband market.

BSkyB is not making any comment on the use for the funds, which it says are for general corporate purposes, but a spokesman confirmed we plan to continue to set the pace of change in media and distribution, including initiatives such as our broadband content portal, our mobile offering and our high definition television offering.

A report in the Guardian newspaper suggests that the company could use the money to buy into broadband, possibly by acquiring a broadband service provider, enabling it to offer a triple-play of video, voice and data services.

The report speculates that potential acquisition targets could include Homechoice, which provides a broadband television service in the London area and is looking to roll out a national service. Other broadband suppliers such as Easynet and Pipex are also cited as possible targets. Sky is said to be planning to invest in installing its own equipment in telephone exchanges, a process known as local loop unbundling.

Sky had previously made an offer of over 1 billion for Flextech, the programming division of Telewest, although the company is apparently no longer for sale following the announced plans for a merger of Telewest with NTL.

With the possibility of greater competition from a single cable company, and BT planning to offer its own video-on-demand service, Sky must certainly be considering its options. Broadband provides the ability to offer true video-on-demand, integrated telephony, high-speed internet access, enhanced interactive services, and the opportunity to extend its service to homes without satellite dishes.

The forthcoming high-definition set-top box that Sky will launch next year is expected to come equipped with a network connection.

Article in the Telegraph re possible Sky takeover:

Sky declares war on cable firms with Easynet takeover
By Andrew Murray-Watson (Filed: 16/10/2005)


British Sky Broadcasting will this week announce a takeover of Easynet, the listed telecoms company, in a move that signals the start of a more aggressive battle against its cable TV rivals.

The acquisition - at a price of up to 150m - represents Sky's first step towards becoming a major force in the UK internet arena and makes the broadcaster a direct rival in the broadband market to the likes of BT, AOL and Wanadoo.


The takeover of Easynet will also allow Sky to offer a "triple play" of pay-TV, broadband internet and telephone services to its customer base, which is expected to total 8m subscribers by the end of the year.

Telegraph

Googling throws up quite a few other artilces on this issue, but they mainly just quote the Telegraph's piece.

saw it everywhere as well. i have my smallest position in 2 years but at least i have some! typical.

My estimates is 125-130p bid so will open tomorrow about 110-115p waiting for the announcement. a good chance that there will be a competing bidder though which could push the price closer to 150p...my fancy is Wanadoo (Orange). Nothing like an approach to get some other punters to act.

speak later

rgds
PT

Well done prop could this be the end,for easynet !!

had to happen didn't it- alk next?.

Happy days here today anyway! I wonder if any others will now show their hand after todays news? It even got a mention on CNBC late this afternoon.

france tel...your move.