(Telecompaper) Telecom Italia (TIM) has announced the sale of direct and indirect stakes in mobile towers group Inwit to a consortium led by French private equity firm Ardian, confirming earlier reports. Under the deal, TIM said the Ardian consortium is acquiring 49 percent of a newly-formed holding company where it plans to transfer a 30.2 percent Inwit stake. TIM has also agreed to sell an up to 3 percent direct Inwit stake to a vehicle managed by Canson Capital Partners, meaning the operator will cash in a total of EUR 1.6 billion from the transactions.