Big-gest deal: Vodafone bags Hutch for $19.3 bn

UK telecom major has finally bagged the big telecom battle. In an intense battle Vodafone is understood to have emerged as the winner for majority stake in India's fourth largest mobile player Hutch-Essar, pipping Anil Ambani group's Reliance Communications, Essar and Hinduja Group.

Vodafone’s winning bid stood at $19.3 bn.

The fate of suitors, who submitted their bids on Friday, was decided at a meeting of the Board of Hutchison Telecom which had put its 67 per cent stake on the block a few months ago, on Sunday.

Officials of either HTIL or any other suitor could not be contacted for comments on the details of their respective bids.

As per sources, Vodafone has offered to make Essar partner which is being evaluated by Essar.