UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 6-K

 

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

 

Pursuant to Rules 13a-16 or 15d-16 under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Dated February 7, 2012

 

Commission File Number: 001-10086

 

VODAFONE GROUP
PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

 

 

VODAFONE HOUSE, THE CONNECTION, NEWBURY, BERKSHIRE, RG14 2FN, ENGLAND

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

 

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): _______

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): _______

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

 

If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-______.

 

THIS REPORT ON FORM 6-K SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN EACH OF THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM F-3 (FILE NO. 333- 168347), THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8 (FILE NO. 333-81825) AND THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8 (FILE NO. 333-149634) OF VODAFONE GROUP PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY AND TO BE A PART THEREOF FROM THE DATE ON WHICH THIS REPORT IS FURNISHED, TO THE EXTENT NOT SUPERSEDED BY DOCUMENTS OR REPORTS SUBSEQUENTLY FILED OR FURNISHED.

 

This Report on Form 6-K contains a news release dated 4 February 2012 entitled ‘PIRAMAL HEALTHCARE TO ACQUIRE A FURTHER 5.5% STAKE IN VODAFONE INDIA’

 

 

4 February 2012

 

 

 

PIRAMAL HEALTHCARE TO ACQUIRE A FURTHER 5.5% STAKE IN VODAFONE INDIA

 

 

Vodafone Group (“Vodafone”) and Piramal Healthcare (“Piramal”) today announced that Piramal has agreed to purchase approximately 5.5% of the issued equity share capital of Vodafone India Limited (“VIL”) from ETHL Communications Holdings Limited (“Essar”) for a cash consideration of approximately INR 30.07 billion (£385 million1) taking Piramal’s total shareholding in VIL2 to approximately 11%.

 

 

The transaction follows the settlement between Vodafone and Essar over the sale of Essar’s approximately 33% stake in VIL, announced in July 2011, and the purchase by Piramal of approximately 5.5% of the issued share capital of VIL from Essar in August 2011. This completes the exit of the Essar group as a shareholder in VIL.

 

 

The transaction contemplates various exit mechanisms for Piramal, including both participation in a potential initial public offering of VIL and a sale of its stake to Vodafone.

 

 

- ends -

 

 

For further information:

 

Vodafone Group

 

 

 

About Vodafone

Vodafone is one of the world’s largest mobile communications companies by revenue with approximately 391 million customers in its controlled and jointly controlled markets as at 30 September 2011. Vodafone currently has equity interests in over 30 countries across five continents and more than 40 partner networks worldwide.  For more information, please visit www.vodafone.com.

 

 

1 At an exchange rate of £1.00:INR78.0

2 The value of 100% of the gross assets of VIL as at 31 March 2011 was INR 592 billion (£7.6 billion1)

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorised.

 

 

 

		VODAFONE GROUP
		PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
		(Registrant)
Dated: February 7, 2012	By:	/s/ R E S MARTIN
		Name: Rosemary E S Martin
		Title:  Group General Counsel and Company Secretary