LONDON-Rumors abound regarding the possible sale of Vivendi Universal’s stake in French mobile operator SFR to Vodafone Group. Vodafone has said it is interested in taking control of SFR, but not at any cost.
Market analysts have valued SFR at about US$8 billion.
Vodafone already directly owns 20 percent of SFR, along with an indirect stake of 32 percent through the direct stake and its 15-percent holding in Cegetel, which holds 80 percent of the operator. Vivendi owns 44 percent of Cegetel, British Telecom owns 26 percent and SBC Communications holds 15 percent.
Vodafone earlier this week bought Vivendi’s stake in mobile portal Vizzavi, and the French company is looking to further reduce its heavy debt load.
