Vodafone has distanced itself from the investigation by German public prosecutors into the payments to members of Mannesmann's supervisory board, during last year's hostile takeover of Mannesmann.

German prosecutors are investigating whether payments of DM150m (€77m) made to Mannesmann board members including Klaus Esser, former chief executive of Mannesmann, unduly influenced their decision finally to support Vodafone's successful takeover bid last year.