9:05 AM Vivendi eyes Vodafone's stake in French operator SFR

Michelle Donegan

March 23, 2010

1 Min Read
Will Vodafone Bid SFR Adieu?

9:05 AM -- Vodafone Group plc (NYSE: VOD) appears to have an eager buyer for its 44 percent stake in French operator SFR .

Vivendi , which owns the other 56 percent of SFR, is keen on acquiring Vodafone's share, according to Bloomberg's report of recent comments made by Vivendi CEO Jean-Bernard Levy.

But Vodafone is not likely to give up its presence in the French market so easily. Even though Vodafone has only a minority share in SFR, which is not ideal, the asset has value. In the 2008/2009 financial year, Vodafone got a £300 million (US$450 million) dividend from SFR.

Also, if Vivendi is the only buyer for the minority stake, then Vodafone probably wouldn't get the top price it would want for that asset.

— Michelle Donegan, European Editor, Light Reading Mobile

About the Author(s)

Michelle Donegan

Michelle Donegan is an independent technology writer who has covered the communications industry for the last 20 years on both sides of the Pond. Her career began in Chicago in 1993 when Telephony magazine launched an international title, aptly named Global Telephony. Since then, she has upped sticks (as they say) to the UK and has written for various publications including Communications Week International, Total Telecom and, most recently, Light Reading.  

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