Vodafone in €7.7bn bid for Kabel Deutschland

British mobile phone giant Vodafone said it intends to buy Kabel Deutschland, Germany's biggest cable operator, for 7.7 billion euros ($10.1 billion). Kabel Deutschland is Germany's leading cable provider, providing television, telephony and broadband services to about 8.5 million connected households in 13 of Germany's 16 federal states. Vodafone said in a statement it would offer Kabel Deutschland shareholders 87 euros in cash for every share. The offer included the purchase price of 84.50 euros per share plus the 2.50 euro dividend announced by Kabel Deutschland in February. Kabel Deutschland shares had closed at 84.10 euros on Friday. The management and supervisory boards of Kabel Deutschland "welcome the transaction, (and) intend to recommend Kabel Deutschland shareholders accept the offer," Vodafone said. Kabel Deutschland would provide Vodafone "with an attractive platform for TV and fixed broadband in Germany and creates a leading integrated operator with pro forma revenues of approximately 11.5 billion euros," the statement said.