Belvedere may sell Marie Brizard unit - Les Echos

PARIS, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Debt-ridden French drinks group Belvedere (BEVD.PA) is considering selling its Marie Brizard liqueur unit to refocus on its vodka business, business newspaper Les Echos reported on Monday, citing several sources.

Officials at Belvedere could not be reached immediately for comment on the report.

In July, Belvedere was put in a safeguard procedure -- the equivalent of being placed in administration in Britain -- after breaking some of its debt covenants. The company is currently struggling with debt of 425 million euros.

Belvedere shares closed at 82.35 euros on Friday, giving the company a stock market value of around 207 million euros ($314 million).

Belvedere acquired Marie Brizard some 2-1/2 half years ago.

On Aug. 8 there was a shareholders meeting of Belvedere in Talloires, east France, where the company said that several approaches to solve the debt situation were being considered, but no capital increase had yet been retained.

It added that negotiations with the floating rate note holders should begin in early September. (Reporting by Yann Le Guernigou and Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Louise Ireland)