LONDON, July 23 (Reuters) - The chairman of the world'ssecond-largest mobile operator Vodafone said that thegroup would seriously consider any offer for its stake in itsU.S. joint venture Verizon Wireless, but that there was nothingnew to announce on Tuesday.
Vodafone's partner Verizon Communications has madelittle secret of its desire to buy out Vodafone in amulti-billion dollar deal that would be one of the largest ofall time.
The company's chairman, Gerard Kleisterlee, was speaking atVodafone's annual meeting in London.
Vodafone owns a 45 percent stake in the U.S. joint ventureand said in May that it would consider an offer but it wascomfortable with the status quo.