<p>Italian operator Telecom Italia (TIM) called an extraordinary board meeting Sunday after receiving an expression of interest from US investment fund KKR for the entire firm, a source close to the matter said.</p>.<p>KKR already has a stake in FiberCop, a joint venture with TIM and Italian internet provider Fastweb to provide fibre optic broadband across Italy.</p>.<p>It comes amid growing pressure on TIM's top management from shareholders -- the largest of which is France's Vivendi -- following disappointing recent results, according to the <em>Corriere della Sera</em> newspaper, which first broke the KKR story.</p>.<p>The newspaper added that the Italian government has powers to intervene in any potential takeover deal because TIM's network is considered a strategic national asset.</p>.<p><strong>Check out the latest videos from <i data-stringify-type="italic">DH</i>:</strong></p>
<p>Italian operator Telecom Italia (TIM) called an extraordinary board meeting Sunday after receiving an expression of interest from US investment fund KKR for the entire firm, a source close to the matter said.</p>.<p>KKR already has a stake in FiberCop, a joint venture with TIM and Italian internet provider Fastweb to provide fibre optic broadband across Italy.</p>.<p>It comes amid growing pressure on TIM's top management from shareholders -- the largest of which is France's Vivendi -- following disappointing recent results, according to the <em>Corriere della Sera</em> newspaper, which first broke the KKR story.</p>.<p>The newspaper added that the Italian government has powers to intervene in any potential takeover deal because TIM's network is considered a strategic national asset.</p>.<p><strong>Check out the latest videos from <i data-stringify-type="italic">DH</i>:</strong></p>