Telecom Italia S.p.A. (BIT:TIT) made a takeover offer for BT Group Plc's Italian business, giving momentum to an asset sale that would help BT Group's move on from an accounting scandal on the continent, according to people familiar with the matter. The bid from Telecom Italia is non-binding, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the process isn't public. CK Hutchison Holdings Limited (SEHK:1)'s Wind Tre SpA and Retelit S.p.A. (BIT:LIT) also expressed interested in the unit, they said.

Representatives for BT Italia S.p.A., BT, Telecom Italia, Wind Tre and Retelit declined to comment.