Barron’s: Vodafone boost from Liberty Global tie-up

Vodafone Group could benefit from a merger with Liberty Global, according to a report in Barron’s, which added the British telecommunications company’s shares could also be poised for a 33% rise.

A Vodafone merger with the cable group would “yield considerable strategic and financial benefits”, said the financial newspaper, which describes Liberty Global chairman John Malone as a “shareholder-focused deal maker” who may be inclined to pursue such a deal “if terms can be worked out”.

Vodafone has already said it was no longer in talks with Liberty, Barron’s said, but the two companies have partnered on a joint venture in the Netherlands.