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France Telecom aims for small buys after Telia
PARIS (Reuters) - France Telecom (FTE.PA) said on Wednesday it was seeking acquisitions that would be smaller than its failed $40 billion bid for TeliaSonera (TLSN.ST) but declined to comment on a possible cash return to shareholders.
France Telecom has repeatedly said it is aiming to make acquisitions in emerging markets in Africa and Asia.
After becoming a majority shareholder in Kenya Telecom, the French operator is eyeing stakes in Ghana Telecom, Algerie Telecom and Vietnam's Mobifone.
"The matter is closed and definitely closed," France Telecom Chief Executive Didier Lombard told a telecoms conference organized by Les Echos newspaper, referring to its failed bid for Nordic operator TeliaSonera. "We will make more modest things in the coming months," he said.
He declined to comment on the possibility of a cash return to shareholders, which many analysts say they expect the company to consider.
"We expect the board to look at the different strategic options, including enhanced distribution, in July," HSBC said in a note on Wednesday.
France's leading telecoms operator which trades mainly as Orange walked away from TeliaSonera on Monday after the pair failed to agree on valuation. "In light of the state of the markets, it was a bit difficult to continue," Lombard said about the failed bid.
Its cash-and-shares indicative bid was rejected as too low by TeliaSonera's board and the Swedish state, its main shareholder.
"A friendly deal must be done in friendly conditions," Lombard added. "The board of TeliaSonera did not find that our conditions, even though improved, were good enough."
Lombard said the price TeliaSonera wanted would have called for an aggressive restructuring at the Nordic operator.
France Telecom shares have gained more than 11 percent since last Friday's close despite a falling French stock market and continued to rise on Wednesday for the third day running.
By 1021 GMT, the stock was up 1.7 percent at 19.49 euros. Several brokers have upgraded their rating for the stock, including Merrill Lynch, Societe Generale, Credit Suisse, Natixis and HSBC.
(Editing by Rory Channing and Erica Billingham)
