Vivendi on Wednesday officially denied it is considering a bid for U.K.-based pay-TV group Sky, following a report to the contrary.
Speaking to Total Telecom, a spokesman for Vivendi said the firm does not have "any plans or considerations regarding Sky."
The comment came after sources cited by Reuters late on Tuesday claimed that the French media conglomerate is studying a possible acquisition of Sky in order to extend the reach of its Canal Plus TV business to new markets.
Sky has operations in Austria, Germany, Ireland, Italy and the U.K., while Canal Plus Group serves France as well as various markets in the Caribbean, Asia-Pacific, and Africa. According to Reuters’ sources, acquiring Sky would cost Vivendi as much as £28 billion.
The rumour emerged on the same day that Vivendi entered exclusive talks to acquire 80% of Orange-owned video-sharing Website Dailymotion for €217 million.
Vivendi is being watched keenly following some high-profile asset disposals.
In April 2014 it agreed to sell its French mobile business SFR to cable group Altice in a deal worth €17 billion. In September, Vivendi accepted a cash-and-stock offer for its Brazilian fixed-line business GVT.
The deals have boosted Vivendi’s coffers and investors are speculating as to what it might do with the proceeds.
