Vivendi, Vodafone Haven't Started Talks On SFR Stake - Source
February 09 2011 - 11:37AM
Dow Jones News
French media-to-telecoms conglomerate Vivendi SA (VIV.FR) hasn't
yet started talks with Vodafone Group PLC (VOD) to buy the U.K.
telecom giant's stake in French telecom group SFR, a person
familiar with the matter told Dow Jones Wednesday.
An earlier Reuters report quoted SFR's chief executive Frank
Esser as saying that its parent Vivendi was in contact with
Vodafone regarding the acquisition of its 44% stake in SFR.
"There are currently no talks under way between the parties,"
said the person.
Vivendi and Vodafone declined to comment. SFR couldn't
immediately be reached for comment.
Vivendi owns 56% in SFR and has long said it is keen to buy out
Vodafone's stake. Vivendi's management has previously said it would
start talks once it has received all the proceeds from the sale of
its stake in NBC Universal, which it received last month.
-By Ruth Bender of Dow Jones Newswires and Max Colchester of the
Wall Street Journal; ruth.bender@dowjones.com;
max.colchester@wsj.com