* Qtel, Etisalat, Saudi Tel, MTN looking at Maroc -sources
* Vivendi aims for sale by end of Q1 2013 -source
* Vivendi in midst of asset sales, strategy review
By Leila Abboud and Sophie Sassard
PARIS, Oct 24 (Reuters) – Vivendi has received four
expressions of interest in its 53-percent stake in Maroc Telecom
from which it hopes to garner at least 5.5 billion
euros ($7.13 billion), two people familiar with the matter said
on Wednesday.
Regional rivals Qatar Telecom, Etisalat
and Saudi Telecom, as well as South Africa’s MTN
have spoken to Vivendi’s bankers about acquiring the
stake in Morocco’s biggest operator, the people said.
There is no official deadline set for offers, but Vivendi
hopes to sign a deal before the end of the first quarter of
2013, one of the people said.
Maroc Telecom is Vivendi’s second largest contributor to
earnings but its growth has slowed in recent years under tough
competition in its domestic market.
Vivendi is seeking to sell assets to cut debt and revive its
flagging share price, which is near 10-year lows.
Continued…
