Earlier, Hutchison confirmed that it was in exclusive talks to buy O2 for up to 10.25 billion pounds ($15.4 billion) as Asia's richest Li Ka-shing makes his biggest bet to consolidate his European telecommunications operations..

The deal, which is subject to regulatory approval, will be funded using a 6 billion pounds bank loan, Sixt told reporters.

He added the group was reasonably confident of securing European regulatory approval for the transaction.

($1 = 0.6671 pounds)

(Reporting by Denny Thomas)