Ericsson AB, the world's largest maker of mobile phone networks, will buy UK telecom equipment maker Marconi Corp in a transaction that may value Marconi at as much as 1.3 billion British pounds (US$2.3 billion).

　　The valuation would take into account a 413 million-pound tax loss and a 228 million-pound pension deficit. Marconi was worth 641.5 million pounds as of Friday. An announcement about the transaction could be made with the next 10 days. Marconi, led by Chief Executive Mike Parton, said in August it was in talks about a possible takeover.