Rumor Mill: Vodafone to buy Vivendi's SFR

Vivendi shares enjoyed a spike yesterday as the rumor mill spread predictions that Vodafone would make a $50 billion bid for the French company's 56 percent stake in mobile carrier SFR, in which Vodafone currently holds a 43 percent stake. Vivendi CEO Jean-Bernard Levy even issued a statement to quell the rumors: "We do not plan to modify the structure of the Vivendi group." Of course, the rumors have built Verizon Wireless into the supposed strategy. If Verizon makes a bid of say $38 billion for Vodafone's 45 percent stake in Verizon Wireless, then the company could put that cash toward its acquisition of SFR. It's all just talk right now, but Vivendi has been the focus of M&A rumors many times in the past, even as recently as March, when some thought corporate raider Alexander Vik had his sights on dividing and conquering the company.

For more on the rumored acquisition:
- see this article from Variety (reg. req.)