Dow Jones Newswires reports that France Telecom yesterday said it would consider bidding for some of the assets owned by Kuwait-based Zain should the company decide to break up its African division. “As far as I know, no sales process for single assets of Zain’s African operations is ongoing, but if this was the case, we would look at it,” France Telecom CFO Gervais Pellissier said in a conference call outlining the French group’s first-half year results. Zain noted in its own earnings results last week that plans for a possible sale of its African networks are still ongoing despite recent news that French conglomerate Vivendi had broken off talks. “We have received expression of interest from several parties/other operators to acquire Zain operations in Africa,” noted Dr Al Barrak at the time of its financial results. Dow Jones Newswires notes that Zain has previously said it is reviewing its African assets and may sell its operations there, excluding those in Morocco and Sudan.

In related news, Reuters, citing local newspaper al-Qabas, reported that the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), the Gulf state’s sovereign wealth fund, has asked Zain to keep it updated on any talks linked to a stake sale in the mobile operator. KIA, which owns 24.6 percent of Zain, reportedly said it wants to be able to evaluate any offer based on its own investment strategy. The report said the telecoms firm agreed to inform KIA on any serious offers or developments on the issue.