The VALENTIA consortium, which mainly includes the Irish magnate, Anthony O'Reilly, and a private fund controlled by George Soros, will acquire the Irish fixed telecommunications operator EIRCOM for the sum of EUR 2.8 billion. The offer, which has already received the support of shareholders owning 49.9% of EIRCOM shares, is contingent upon receiving 80% of the shares of the group by 13 August at the latest.