The U.S.-listed shares of Vodafone Group PLC VODUK:VOD climbed 2.4% in midday trading Monday, after media company Liberty Global PLC LBTYALBTYK said it has acquired a 4.9% stake in the U.K.-based telecommunication services company. Liberty said the purchase of the 1.335 billion shares of Vodafone was funding through a financing that required equity funding of about GBP225 million ($272.8 million). Liberty indicated its interest in Vodafone is as a passive investors, as it does not intend to seek seats on Vodafone’s board of directors, and that it isn’t considering making a buyout bid for the company. Liberty’s more-active Class A shares shed 0.4% in midday trading. Vodafone’s stock has lost 8.5% over the past three months while Liberty shares have tacked on 3.3% and the S&P 500 SPX has advanced 3.4%.
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