Vodafone UK deal seen as value-accretive but Citi expects buyback pause

Vodafone Group PLC's (LSE:VOD) move to take full control of its UK joint venture has been broadly welcomed by analysts, with questions remaining over how it will affect capital returns. The FTSE 100 telecoms group yesterday said it had agreed to buy CK Hutchison's 49% stake in VodafoneThree for £4.3 billion, valuing the business at £13.85 billion including debt.