Hutchison seeks to sell Partner stake -newspaper

TEL AVIV, June 8 (Reuters) - Hutchison Whampoa (0013.HK) of Hong Kong has hired Amikam Cohen to find a buyer for its controlling stake in Partner Communications (PTNR.O), Israel's second-largest mobile phone operator, TheMarker financial newspaper said on Monday.

Cohen, who is chairman of El Al Israel Airlines (ELAL.TA), was Partner's first chief executive officer.

Partner (PTNR.TA) is 51 percent owned by Hutchison Telecommunications International (2332.HK), which is controlled by Hutchison Whampoa.

Partner has a market cap of 10.9 billion shekels ($2.7 billion).

According to TheMarker, one of the potential buyers is the Israeli communications group Eurocom, a shareholder in the YES satellite television operator.

($1 = 4.0 shekels)

(Reporting by Tova Cohen, editing by Will Waterman)

((telaviv.newsroom@reuters.com; +972-9-899-0222; Reuters Messaging: tova.cohen.reuters.com@reuters.net)) Keywords: PARTNER HUTCHISON/

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