The Financial Times (FT) reports that French conglomerate Vivendi is eyeing a move into the Brazilian mobile sector and has also reiterated its ambition to buy Vodafone out of its home mobile venture, SFR. Jean-Bernard Levy (pictured), Vivendi’s chief executive, told the FT that the company would “closely watch what is happening on the [Brazilian] mobile scene in case we find some opportunities.” Brazilian regulator Anatel is considering an auction this year of radio spectrum that could go to a new operator wanting to provide national mobile services, and Levy said Vivendi was watching Anatel’s deliberations “extremely closely.” A move into the mobile sector would follow Vivendi’s US$4 billion acquisition of the country’s fixed-line broadband company GVT last November.
The FT report also notes that Mr Levy outlined Vivendi’s determination to buy Vodafone out of SFR, France’s second-largest mobile operator, that is jointly owned by the two groups. SFR is the majority 56 percent stakeholder. Vodafone chief executive Vittorio Colao has previously said he does not like having minority stakes, fuelling speculation the UK mobile group could sell its 44 percent stake in the French operator. Mr Levy stated to the FT that he had “no clear timeline” for a deal with Vodafone.
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