FRANKFURT (Reuters) - U.S. cable company Liberty Global <LBTYA.O> is preparing a takeover offer for Germany's Kabel Deutschland <KD8Gn.DE>, German magazine Manager Magazin reported. By preparing a bid, Liberty Global wants to steal a march on UK-based telecommunications company Vodafone <VOD.L>, which is also interested in buying Kabel Deutschland, the monthly magazine said in an excerpt of an article to be published on Friday.

* Kabel Deutschland is in no defence mode - source * Vodafone offer could be worth 10 billion euros * Kabel Deutschland shares flat FRANKFURT, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Kabel Deutschland has no plans to fend off a potential 10 billion euro ($13 billion) takeover offer from British mobile operator Vodafone , two people close to Germany's biggest cable company said.

* Liberty to buy Virgin Media for around $15.75 bln * Says deal is about expanding European presence * Sees no fight over premium content * Rival bid unlikely, say analysts By Paul Sandle LONDON, Feb 6 (Reuters) - John Malone's Liberty Global will avoid a battle with Rupert Murdoch's BSkyB over expensive content like English Premier League soccer, the U.S. company said after agreeing to buy BSkyB's biggest rival.

US-based cable operator Liberty Global said late Tuesday that it will acquire Virgin Media in a stock and cash merger valued at $23.3 billion, eyeing key strategic markets in Europe. The deal hopes to create "the world's leading broadband communications company," which would cover 47 million homes and serve 25 million customers in 14 countries, the two groups said in a joint statement. It said the new company will focus on "the strongest and most strategic markets in Europe, with the scale to be at the forefront of technological change for customers."