LONDON, June 5 (Reuters) - Vodafone, the world'ssecond-biggest mobile operator, said it was considering anexchange of selected assets with Liberty Global,putting an end to speculation that a merger between the twocompanies was on the cards.
Vodafone has long been linked with a purchase or tie-up withLiberty, Europe's largest cable operator, as the marketincreasingly moves towards the combination of mobile serviceswith fixed-line broadband.
The British company said on Friday that it was in earlystage talks with Liberty regarding a possible exchange of"selected assets", putting out a statement following a mediareport on Thursday that the two companies were looking atmerging.
"There is no certainty that any transaction will be agreed,nor is there certainty with respect to which assets willultimately be involved," Vodafone said in its statement.
"Vodafone is not in discussions with Liberty Globalconcerning a combination of the two companies," it added.
(Reporting by Sarah Young, editing by James Davey)
Vodafone (VOD)
