TalkTalk Founder and Ares Explore Consumer Arm Takeover as Opus Deal Falters

TalkTalk founder Charles Dunstone and Ares Management eye consumer arm as Opus deal stalls. New developments in broadband sector.

Editorial Desk

September 18, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — London, United Kingdom — The founder of TalkTalk and the company’s largest lender are reportedly considering new options to take control of its consumer-focused broadband division after a previous deal with Opus Broadband collapsed.

TalkTalk’s founder, Charles Dunstone, and private equity firm Ares Management are evaluating potential bids for the consumer arm of the struggling broadband provider. This follows stalled negotiations with Opus Broadband, a joint venture between Sky and Vodafone, which had previously been in exclusive talks to acquire the business.

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A report suggests that Opus Broadband, which had been working with investment firm Alchemy Partners on a bid for TalkTalk’s debt-laden consumer operations, has decided not to proceed after an exclusivity period ended. Instead, Ares may look to assume long-term ownership of the division. If finalized, this would mark a complete restructuring of TalkTalk, which was established over two decades ago by Dunstone, one of the UK’s most prominent entrepreneurs.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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