Exclusive-Infra funds circle Vodafone for $16 billion Vantage Towers deal -sources

FILE PHOTO: Branding for Vodafone is seen on the exterior of a shop in London, Britain, September 10, 2015. REUTERS/Toby Melville

SINGAPORE/LONDON (Reuters) -Global infrastructure funds have approached Vodafone to invest in its $16 billion mast company Vantage Towers but the telecoms giant's preference is for an industry merger, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The bidders, which include investment firms Brookfield and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), have submitted unsolicited proposals in recent weeks valuing Vantage Towers at a premium to its current valuation of 15 billion euros ($16.57 billion), one of the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.