Vivendi’s Unloved SFR Wooed by Suitors Amid Merger Talks

Vivendi SA’s SFR unit has gone from unloved stepchild to belle of the ball.

France’s second-largest mobile carrier is the subject of a three-way contest among Numericable SA, Iliad SA, and Bouygues SA, all of which are discussing potential acquisition offers, according to people familiar with the situation. Such a deal could replace plans to spin off SFR to Vivendi shareholders, as envisioned by the Paris-based company after a strategic review.