AT&T boss meets regulators over European telco takeover US telecom AT&T has held meetings with regulators in Davos about a potential takeover of a major European telecom as rumours swirl about its interest in Vodafone. Randall Stephenson, AT&T's chairman and chief executive, met with Neelie Kroes on the slopes of the World Economic Forum to discuss a number of issues including the Commission's receptiveness to the American giant entering the European market. Sky News, which first reported the meeting, said that AT&T has started financing discussions about a possible £60bn Vodafone bid. AT&T declined to comment while Ms Kroes did not return calls for comment. Ms Kroes was at Davos as the impact of technological advances on the economy was discussed by policy makers. Competition experts have said it would be natural for AT&T to sound out regulators before dipping its toe into European waters, particularly after it suffered US regulators killed its $39bn takeover of T-Mobile USA in 2011. There have been no talks between AT&T and Vodafone since October last year, a person familiar said. Vodafone's boss Vittorio Colao did not attend this year's Davos forum, however Mr Colao and Mr Stephenson are due to meet next month in Barcelona during the annual Mobile World Congress (MWC). Speculation regarding AT&T's interest in Vodafone has intensified since the UK operator sold its US Verizon Wireless asset for $130bn (£80bn). By coincidence, the Spanish congress will start on the first trading day after the Verizon Wireless deal completes, meaning the UK operators" market value will drop from around £112bn to roughly £60bn as Mr Colao and Mr Stephenson face each other.