Bouygues makes new offer for SFR

French conglomerate Bouygues has upped the stakes in its battle with Numericable and Altice for control of mobile and fixed network operator SFR by tabling a new offer of €13.5 billion for the Vivendi-owned company. 

Bouygues’s latest offer tops by €1.4 billion the €11.75 billion offer currently under discussion between Vivendi and Altice. The Altice offer was itself €450 million higher than Bouygues’ previous proposed purchase price.

Bouygues is now offering Vivendi a 21.5% in the combined entity in place of the 43% previously tabled. Bouygues would take a 67% stake, up from the

Bouygues has also claimed the support of Vivendi shareholder the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations and other long-term shareholders.

Vivendi, which has agreed to a three weeks period of exclusive negotiations with Altice over the future of SFR – acknowledged that it had received a new offer from Bouygues.