LONDON (Thomson Financial) - The telecoms regulator on Thursday fined the Greek unit of UK mobile giant Vodafone 19.1 mln eur for violating network regulations in a wire-tapping scandal that rocked the country last year.

The fine is the second handed to Vodafone Hellas over the case after a 76 mln eur penalty levelled by Greece's communication privacy watchdog last December.

Some 100 Vodafone cellphones in February 2006 were found to have been compromised by an illicit network that tapped sets used by Greek Premier Costas Karamanlis, his wife and several ministers from June 2004 to March 2005.

The tapping used software slipped into Vodafone's network by unknown perpetrators to illegally activate an Ericsson-made module permitting call interception.

On Thursday, the national telecommunications regulator EETT accused Vodafone of breaching regulations on the protection of telecommunications privacy, network maintenance and quality, and consumer protection.

The company rejected last December's fine as 'illegal, unfair and baseless.'

A Greek parliament committee collecting evidence on the case last November noted the involvement of three employees of telecoms giants Ericsson Hellas and Vodafone Greece, identified only by their initials.

'The whole system could not operate without Ericsson know-how and without access from within (Vodafone),' the report said.

The Greek branch of Swedish telecom equipment giant Ericsson has also been fined 7.36 mln eur over the case.

The parliamentary committee did not rule out the involvement of other people operating outside Greece.

The Greek justice department has opened an investigation into the case but nobody has yet been charged.

Days before the affair came to light, a senior Vodafone expert was found hanged inside his home.

The death of Costas Tsalikidis, manager of Vodafone Greece's network planning section, was linked to the case and his family suspects he was murdered.

skin tks interesting but tax position to be clarified.

Not exactly new - Is Vodafone Group plc Planning A Takeover Of British Sky Broadcasting Group plc?

Statement re Vodafone Group Plc

AT&T Inc. ("AT&T") notes the recent speculation regarding a potential transaction involving Vodafone Group Plc ("Vodafone").

At the request of the UK Takeover Panel, AT&T confirms that it does not intend to make an offer for Vodafone. Accordingly, AT&T is bound by the restrictions under Rule 2.8 of the UK Takeover Code (the "Code").

For the purposes of Rule 2.8 of the Code, AT&T reserves the right to announce or participate in an offer or possible offer for Vodafone and/or to take any other action which would otherwise be restricted under Rule 2.8 of the Code within 6 months after the date of this announcement in the circumstances described in note 2 to Rule 2.8 of the Code.

Oops - Credit Suisse Outperform 216.28 232.55 245.00 245.00 Reiterates

HSBC Overweight 223.60 270.00 270.00 Retains

Deutsche Bank Buy 223.60 258.00 258.00 Reiterates

when does VOD go ex "special div"?

==========

no matter; have just bought as they must surely be a good income share if nothing else in the long(er) term, and after yesterday's fall-out, significantly cheaper

Have a look at the 2nd link in post 595 above.

thanks skinny, but i'm advised that with CFDs i will automatically get new-VOD, which is what i would have wanted anyway

The RNS just out - Results of Shareholder Meetings

Credit Suisse Outperform 227.70 223.30 245.00 - Reiterates

Deutsche Bank Buy 227.70 223.30 258.00 258.00 Reiterates

VODAFONE INDIA ACQUIRES SPECTRUM FOR £1.9bn TO ENHANCE MOBILE SERVICES FOR CUSTOMERS

Vodafone India has been awarded spectrum licences in 11 telecom circles in the Indian government's 900 MHz and 1800 MHZ spectrum auction, enabling the company to provide customers with enhanced mobile voice and data services across the country.

Vodafone India acquired a total of 23MHz in the 900MHz band in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata and 49MHZ in the 1800MHz band in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Karnataka, Kerala, Gujarat, UP East, Rajasthan, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab. Vodafone's investment totals INR19,645 crores (£1.9bn1) of which INR 5,600 crores (£540million1) is payable in financial year 2013/2014 with the remainder payable in instalments starting in 2017.

Vodafone India has established a strong platform for 4G data services by buying 1800MHz spectrum in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Karnataka and Kerala, which account for more than 50% of data revenues and are expected to drive the adoption of 4G as was the case after the introduction of 3G services in 2010. Vodafone India also maintained its overall holdings of 900 MHz spectrum in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, and purchased 1800 MHz spectrum in four circles where its licences are due for extension in 2015.

Vodafone India has over 160 million customers, with the number of mobile internet users increasing 38% to 45.7 million in its most recent quarter. Data usage also continues to grow strongly with 3G usage now averaging in excess of 700MB per month. This spectrum and the continued investment in networks will enable Vodafone India to build on its success in delivering superior mobile services to its customers throughout India.

- ends -

Further re Verizon Wireless Transaction

Verizon Wireless Transaction
Number of Verizon Consideration Shares to be issued
Vodafone share consolidation ratio

Vodafone Group Plc ("Vodafone") announces that the aggregate number of Verizon common shares to be issued to shareholders as part consideration for the Verizon Wireless ("VZW") Transaction will be 1,274,764,121, based on a 20 day volume weighted average trading price on the New York Stock Exchange of Verizon common shares for the period ending on 18 February 2014 of US$47.1852. Eligible shareholders are therefore expected to receive 0.026 Verizon common shares for each Vodafone ordinary share under the Return of Value.

Vodafone further announces that the ratio on the basis of which Vodafone ordinary shares will be consolidated at 8.00 a.m. on 24 February 2014 will be 6 new ordinary shares for every existing 11 Vodafone ordinary shares. The consolidation ratio is based on a mid-market closing price of Vodafone ordinary shares of 223.975 pence, a mid-market closing price of Verizon common shares of US$45.965 and a US dollar-sterling exchange rate of 1.6698, in each case on 18 February 2014.

As at the close of business on 18 February 2014, Vodafone's issued share capital consisted of 48,469,917,724 ordinary shares, excluding the 4,351,833,492 ordinary shares held in Treasury. To ensure that its share capital is divisible by the consolidation ratio, Vodafone intends to purchase 8 of its ordinary shares and cancel 3 of its shares held in Treasury later today. Once the share consolidation has been completed on 24 February 2014, Vodafone will have 28,811,864,298 new ordinary shares in issue (including ordinary shares held in Treasury).

By way of illustrative example only (and on the basis of the information provided above, as at the close of business on 18 February 2014), assuming that Court approval for the scheme of arrangement and associated reductions of capital of Vodafone is obtained on 21 February 2014, the Return of Value would be equivalent to 102 pence per Vodafone ordinary share, comprising 72 pence in Verizon common shares and 30 pence in cash.

Where shareholders are due to receive their cash in sterling or euro, the exact amount received will depend on the exchange rates obtained in the markets during the week commencing 24 February 2014.

Nomura Buy 224.00 224.00 250.00 255.00 Reiterates

Citigroup Buy 223.35 223.35 260.00 290.00 Reiterates

Deutsche Bank Buy 223.35 223.35 258.00 258.00 Reiterates

Vodafone brings together operating units with CWW assets to build global purchasing power

The RNS :- Vodafone Group Plc Closing of the VZW and Vodafone Italy Transactions

My Hargreaves Lansdown account in now showing the post VZ details :-

VZ @2,389.72

Cash @29.63

VOD @242.

Slimmer post-Verizon Vodafone becomes subject of fevered bid speculation - with AT&T top of the pile

Ever since tying up with Verizon forerunner Bell Atlantic Corporation in 1999, Vodafone has found itself at the centre of massive deal speculation. Investors and analysts wanted to know if, when and how it would sell or increase its 45 per cent stake in the Verizon Wireless business it had bought into.

Vittorio Colao, who has been chief executive of the global phone giant since 2008, must have thought that the nagging questions were finally behind him when last year he agreed to sell the stake in an £84billion mega-deal that completed yesterday.

But now rumour has made way for speculation, with another whopping deal said to be in the pipeline.

The Verizon sale sees Vodafone’s market value fall by around £52billion as cash and Verizon shares are dished out to the company’s investors.

Although Voda is still going to be worth in excess of £62billion – in the world of media giants, with pockets deeper than the Mariana Trench, this makes it a prime takeover bid, analysts say.

Share consolidation effective

Share consolidation effective and commencement of trading in consolidated shares

Further to the announcements on 19 and 21 February 2014, the 6 for 11 consolidation of the entire ordinary share capital of Vodafone Group Plc ("Vodafone") will become effective today and trading in the new ordinary shares is expected to commence at 8.00 a.m. today.*

Existing share certificates for Vodafone ordinary shares will no longer be valid as of 8.00 a.m. today. Shareholders who are eligible for the Vodafone Share Account ("VSA") and have not opted out of the VSA will receive a statement of ownership in due course. Shareholders who are not eligible for the VSA or who have opted out will receive new share certificates.

In conformity with Disclosure and Transparency Rule 5.6.1AR, Vodafone hereby notifies the market that, as at 8.00 a.m. today, Vodafone's issued and listed share capital will consist of 28,811,864,298 ordinary shares with a nominal value of 20 20/21 US cents each with voting rights, of which 2,373,727,362 ordinary shares will be held in Treasury.

Therefore, the total number of voting rights in Vodafone will be 26,438,136,936. This figure may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, Vodafone under the FCA's Disclosure and Transparency Rules.

In addition to these issued and listed ordinary shares, Vodafone has existing block listings with an outstanding balance of 93,251,236 ordinary shares with a nominal value of 113/7 US cents. Following the consolidation these block listings will be for 50,864,306 ordinary shares with a nominal value of 20 20/21 US cents.

Vodafone confirms that the ordinary shares held by its directors, persons discharging managerial responsibility and their connected persons will be consolidated with effect from 8.00 a.m. today, but that the relevant percentage interests in Vodafone on consolidation will remain the same.


Expected timetable of events:
Event
Time / Date
Verizon common shares credited to shareholders
From 8.00 a.m. on 24 February 2014
Payment of cash entitlements under the Return of Value
4 March 2014
Payment of fractional entitlements under the Return of Value
10 March 2014

Deutsche Bank Buy 249.65 258.00 255.00 Reiterates