LONDON (AP) — BT Group PLC said Monday it is in exclusive talks to buy mobile phone operator EE from Germanys Deutsche Telekom and Frances Orange for 12.5 billion pounds ($20 billion) in cash and shares. BT, Britains biggest home telephone and Internet provider, announced last month that it was planning to re-enter the mobile market, which it left in 2001. EE would mark a major re-entry into the mobile phone market for BT. EE is the countrys biggest with its 24.5 million customers. In an after-hours statement Monday, BT said the period of exclusivity will last several weeks and allow it to complete its due diligence and for negotiations on a definitive agreement to be concluded. It foresees a deal that would leave Deutsche Telekom with a 12 percent stake in BT and Orange a 4 percent stake. EE was created from the merger of mobile phone brands Orange and T-Mobile in 2010 before the business went on to launch the U.K.s first 4G network in 2012. BT said EE would give it the U.K.s most advanced 4G network, giving it greater control in terms of future investment and product innovation. It also said it expected significant cost savings from any deal. BT is the latest telecoms company to adopt a quad play strategy, offering customers packages including mobile and fixed-line phone, Internet and television services. The company has moved into the TV sports market, and has bought a clutch of high-profile football rights, such as English Premier League and Champions League broadcasts. A deal would require the approval of BT shareholders and could raise some regulatory concerns at industry regulator Ofcom. It combines the U.K. market-leader in fixed-line with the number one mobile operator, said Paolo Pescatore, a communications analyst at CCS Insight. We believe it is unlikely that Ofcom would block the deal, but the combined entity could be forced to dispose of some spectrum. Associated Press Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.*************Dec. 15, 2014 1:37 PM ET Defense rests in German exchange student shooting By LISA BAUMANN, Associated PressMISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — The defense rested its case Monday in the murder trial of a Montana man who shot and killed a German exchange student who was inside the mans garage. Markus Kaarma fired four shots into his garage early April 27, killing 17-year-old Diren Dede. He was alerted to Dedes presence in the garage by a motion detector. Prosecutors say that after a previous burglary, Kaarma was intent on harming an intruder when he shot Dede. Kaarmas attorneys say Montana law allowed him to use deadly force to defend his home. Defense lawyers presented less than two days of testimony after calling police officers and two expert witnesses. One attempted to discredit the police investigation in the case and another spoke of how the brain shuts down when under stress. Douglas Johnson, a U.S. NAVY psychologist and expert in brain behavior in high-stress situations, said when someone is in a fight or flight situation, its the perception of a threat and not an actual threat that can set it off that reaction. Part of that response includes a loss of ability to consider alternative actions or behavior, he said. If its chronic stressor, your ability to handle it deteriorates, he said. Johnson told prosecutors he was paid $23,000 to testify. Kaarmas attorneys have depicted him as an anxious person who was under stress after his home was burglarized in a separate incident April 17. They also say because of that and another incident in which he suspects he was burglarized, Kaarma felt targeted and afraid for his family. Neighbors testified last week that Kaarmas girlfriend told them the couple planned to bait burglars into entering their garage so they could catch them. Kaarmas girlfriend, Janelle Pflager, denied attempting to bait anyone, although she did leave a purse in the garage. The garage door was also left partially open that night. Missoula police officer Jeff Lloyd also testified Monday that after the shooting he saw Kaarma light the wrong end of a cigarette and that he appeared shook up. When questioned by prosecutors, however, Lloyd said Kaarma lit the wrong end only after he was told police wanted to take him to the police station for questioning. Before that, Kaarma was able to smoke without any issues, Lloyd added. Defense attorneys rested their case by showing videos of Kaarma in the police interview room after he was told hed be charged with deliberate homicide. In both hes sniffling and in one hes alone crying with his head down on a table. District Court Judge Ed McLean told jurors rebuttal testimony will take place Monday afternoon. Closing arguments will begin Tuesday and jurors can expect to begin deliberations in the afternoon, he said. Associated Press Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.***************hosted2.ap.org/txdam/54828a5e8d9d48b7ba8b94ba38a9ef22/Article_2014-12-15-US--Exchange%20Student%20Shot/id-8ec8be93129d4a9797dc25914c67453f
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 19:07:43 +0000
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