Vivendi says it has sold some shares in NBC Universal to GE

French group Vivendi said yesterday it had sold about a third of its interest in US media firm NBC Universal to General Electric for $2 billion.

Vivendi, which held 20 per cent of NBC Universal, had sold a stake of 7.66 per cent to General Electric for payment in cash, a Vivendi spokeswoman said.

Vivendi would sell its remaining 12.34-per cent stake to GE for $3.8 billion once a merger between NBC Universal and Comcast is approved by US regulators.

Vivendi previously held 20 per cent in NBC Universal, with US conglomerate GE owning 80 per cent.

Comcast, the biggest US cable television and high-speed broadband provider, is acquiring 51 per cent of NBC Universal from GE, in a deal which would create one of the biggest media companies in the United States.