Vivendi and GE US$1bn out in NBC valuation

General Electric (GE) and Vivendi’s respective valuations of the French media group’s stake in NBC Universal differ by at least US$1bn (€670m).

Cable operator Comcast is keen to take a 51% per cent stake in NBC Universal and according to the Financial Times had hoped to announce, along with GE, an agreement before yesterday’s Thanksgiving holiday in the US. However, GE and Vivendi are believed to be between US$1bn-US$2bn apart on the valuation of the French group’s 20% stake. Comcast’s offer values NBC Universal at about US$30bn.

Vivendi has the right to sell its 20% stake to GE between mid November and the start of December each year until 2016.