Exclusive-INWIT investors line up financing for possible take-private, sources say

MILAN/LONDON, Oct 11 (Reuters) The leading shareholders in INWIT are arranging the financing for a potential take-private deal of Italy s largest mobile telecom towers company, two ​people close to the matter said, amid a ‌contractual dispute between the masts firm and its two main customers. French private equity firm Ardian and investment vehicle Oak Holdings 1, the latter backed by co-investors GIP, Vodafone and KKR, are exploring a bid to ‌buy ​out minority shareholders in INWIT, the ⁠people said. Ardian controls 32% ⁠of INWIT, while Oak Holdings controls 39%. The investors are discussing the financing of the bid with banks, the people said, with one person adding that Abu Dhabi investment ​firm Mubadala is expected to take a stake in INWIT as part of the plan. The people cautioned that deliberations are ⁠still ongoing. Ardian, GIP, Vodafone, KKR ⁠and Mubadala declined to comment. GIP is part ​of US investment firm Blackrock. An INWIT spokesperson said the company ​did not have a