According to a Sky News report, the Australian bank could sign an exclusivity agreement as early as this week that would pave the way for a deal.
The report said that Macquarie was proposing to invest £450 million into PlatformX, TalkTalk’s wholesale platform, in return for a stake of 40 per cent or slightly more.
TalkTalk would use some of the proceeds to pay down its debt, it was reported.
Other parties, including alternative asset manager DigitalBridge, have also looked at buying a stake in PlatformX.
TalkTalk’s business operation has been sold to a syndicate of the group’s shareholders, while its consumer arm is expected to be put up for sale.
In September 2023, TalkTalk announced changes to its leadership team in preparation for plans to demerge its main operating businesses into three standalone companies - the B2B Wholesale Platform, TalkTalk Consumer and TalkTalk Business Direct.
Last week, Comms Business reported that TalkTalk had acquired Shell Energy UK’s broadband customer base from Octopus Energy.
Macquarie and TalkTalk declined to comment.