Exclusive-Vodafone and Hutchison to announce UK merger as soon as Friday – sources

HONG KONG/LONDON (Reuters) – Vodafone (NASDAQ:) and CK Hutchison are in the final stages of agreeing to merge their British operations, with a long-awaited announcement expected as soon as Friday or early next week, three sources have told Reuters.

A spokeswoman for Hutchison declined to comment. Vodafone was not immediately available to comment.