Vodafone says still keen on France, Poland, Asia

Vodafone Group Plc is still running its eye over acquisition targets in markets such as Asia, Poland and France as well as focussing on organic growth, the British-based mobile phone giant said on Monday.

Arun Sarin, the chief executive of the world's largest cell phone group by revenue, said the world remained dotted with purchase opportunities -- including two that have evaded Vodafone's grasp for years: controlling stakes in French telecoms group SFR and Poland's Polkomtel.

"We continue to look for opportunities in Asia," Sarin told an annual investor and analyst day at the company's headquarters in Newbury, west of London.

"(And) there are clearly one or two investments that we have, where we would like to take our investments up (increase our holdings) -- countries such as Poland or in SFR (in France)," he added.

Vodafone has long been seeking to raise its 44 percent stake in SFR, its French joint venture with Paris-based telecoms and media group Vivendi Universal (EAUG.PA: Quote, Profile, Research). But Vivendi has rejected its advances to date.

The company has also been vying with -- and against -- Polish co-shareholder TDC, the Danish carrier, to increase its 19.61 percent stake in Polish mobile telecoms operator Polkomtel.

But drawn-out talks with Polkomtel's Polish state-owned owners, metals group KGHM , oil group PKN and power grid PSE, threaten to become further delayed by expected management reshuffles after the September 25 general election.

"You will see us growing the business organically as hard as we can, but equally keeping our minds open as to whether we can grow inorganically as well," Sarin added, opening a day of presentations from regional heads at units including Vodafone's British, Italian, Japanese, German and Spanish operations.

(Source: Reuters)

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