Enel, Italy's largest utility looking to divest its telecoms unit Wind, has opened talks with private equity buyers less than a month after snubbing a €12bn ($15.8bn) offer for the unit in favour of a flotation.

Enel, which has been trying to sell Wind since 2000, has now invited six private equity funds to consider bidding for the unit, according to a report from Reuters citing sources close to the deal.