British mobile phone group Vodafone announced on Friday it had once again extended the closing date for its offer for the locally listed investment group VenFin to noon on February 3.

Vodafone currently owns 35 percent of local cellular group Vodacom and is seeking to lift this stake to 50 percent through its offer to VenFin of 47.25 rand per share.

The Competition Commission last month unconditionally recommended to the Competition Tribunal that the proposed acquisition of VenFin by Vodafone be approved.

Vodafone had earlier this month extended the closing date for the offer to January 27.

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