Vodafone said today it remained keen on purchases in France, eastern Europe and Asia and Africa as it detailed annual cost cuts expected to reach £2.5 billion by March 2008.
Vodafone also promised to unveil plans to raise shareholder returns when it announces half-year results on 16 November as it reiterated financial guidance for this year.
"It is reasonable to think that we will be paying out more and more of our cashflow in the coming years," CEO Arun Sarin told an analyst and investor day at the company's headquarters in Newbury, west of London.
Sarin said although Vodafone had an "excellent" geographic footprint he continued to be interested in eastern Europe and in SFR, the French mobile phone group controlled by Paris-based Vivendi Universal , of which Vodafone owns 44%.
He also noted that other regions, such as Asia and Africa, offered high growth and low mobile phone penetration and could allow Vodafone to create shareholder value.
