By Ron Coates, 30 March 2001 16:40
NEWS However, on reading today's headlines he may wish he had been more economical with the truth as the broadsheets laid in to the beleaguered telco. According to reports Hampton said Concert, BT's joint venture with AT&T, was experiencing fresh difficulties as a result of being "a marriage between enemies" and suggested that BT was looking at selling it. Hampton is also reported to have said pride rather than sound financial discipline had been the reason behind several acquisitions. Today, BT was playing down Hampton's comments made at a dinner meeting at London stockbrokers Teather & Greenwood. A spokesman said that the reports were "an interpretation of an interpretation". He added that Hampton "was only speaking generally on a range of options. He would not have floated any specific ideas or actions". To add to BT's problems, the meeting is said to have been reported to watchdog Financial Services Authority and passed to the Listing Authority for 'selective disclosure.' BT shares lifted slightly today, by 13p to 532p, on the rumours of a Concert sell-off.
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