Troubled British telecoms firm Energis has received expressions of interest from potential buyers for some of its operations, a spokesman said yesterday.

"We have had some interest in parts of the organisation," said spokesman Mr Mark Beeden, but he was not aware of any approaches about the company as a whole. He was unable to comment on details of the approaches or say which parts of the business would be of interest to them, adding that Energis would not say more at this stage.

Energis, with more than £1 billion sterling (€1.63 billion) net debt, may be unable to meet interest payments on bonds and is at the mercy of its banks.

Mr Beeden declined to comment on Sunday newspaper reports that Energis's former chief executive, Mr Michael Grabiner, was considering a bid for the company through private equity firm Apax Partners, which he joined 10 days ago. The Sunday Telegraph said Grabiner, who quit Energis nine months ago, had approached the telecoms group's advisers and told them Apax was interested in making a bid.- (Reuters)