Willkie Farr & Gallagher’s Paris office advises proposed $23 billion sale of telecom unit.

As widely reported in the international press, French media giant Vivendi SA has selected cable group Numericable as potential acquirer for its mobile phone unit SFR in what could be one of the biggest financing deals in Europe this year. The proposal is supported by Luxemburg investment fund Altice, Numericable’s largest shareholder (40 percent). Altice is the investment vehicle of French billionaire/entrepreneur Patrick Drahi. Vivendi preferred its offer over a rival bid by Bouygues, the owner of Bouygues Telecom, the third-largest mobile service provider in France, after Orange and SFR.

The deal is being handled by partners Daniel Hurstel and Dominque Mondoloni.