The future fate of Verizon Wireless’ ownership continues to make headlines, with the latest reports suggesting that one option – a merger between parent companies Vodafone and Verizon Communications – is unlikely to happen. Speaking during a conference hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations in New York yesterday, Ivan Seidenberg (pictured), Verizon Communications’ chief executive, said: “Absent new information, a merger doesn’t seem to have a lot of appeal… There’s no compelling reason for investors to think this is an exciting thing to do.” The Financial Times reports that Seidenberg also rejected suggestions that it would make more sense for Verizon Wireless to be part of global mobile operator Vodafone. “This notion of a global wireless-only carrier is no longer the preferred model” because of difficulties reaching economies of scale, he added. Seidenberg also suggested that he could look to buy out Vodafone’s minority stake in Verizon Wireless: “In the long-term, minority-interest partners in your business, you’d probably like to resolve that.”

Verizon Communications owns 55 percent of Verizon Wireless (the largest US mobile operator), whilst Vodafone holds the remaining 45 percent. Despite the mobile operator’s subscriber success, Verizon Communications has blocked Vodafone from making dividend payments since 2005 in order to pay down debt. This situation has frustrated Vodafone CEO Vittorio Colao, who has faced pressure from his own investors to break the impasse. This has reportedly led Vodafone to recently mull three options on Verizon Wireless; securing a resumption of dividend payments, selling its stake in the business, or merging with Verizon Communications.