Vodafone Set to Make New Bid for Germany’s Mannesmann

Vodafone AirTouch, the world’s biggest mobile phone group, was poised on Thursday to launch a fresh multibillion-dollar bid for Mannesmann hours after the German firm lost a last-ditch attempt to delay an offer. Britain’s Vodafone said it planned no further statement on Thursday after a late-afternoon board meeting to discuss the size of a second, unsolicited takeover bid for its partner in Germany, Italy and France. “We are making no further comments tonight,” a company spokesman said as speculation mounted that the company was planning to bid up to $131.1 billion for the telecommunications and engineering concern. A fresh offer from Vodafone was expected ahead of Mannesmann’s supervisory board meeting, which industry sources said would begin this morning. Earlier, the British High Court threw out a legal move by Mannesmann to bar investment bank Goldman, Sachs & Co. from advising Vodafone. Goldman--which had temporarily withdrawn its services ahead of the court case--confirmed it was back on board Vodafone’s advisory team, a move welcomed by Vodafone’s supporters.