France Telecom CEO: No Comment on Possible Payouts to Holders

PARIS -(Dow Jones)- The chief executive of France Telecom, Wednesday declined to comment on the possibility of additional payouts to shareholders following the collapse of the company's attempt to buy Nordic operator TeliaSonera.

"The board will decide," CEO Didier Lombard told journalists on the sidelines of a telecoms conference in Paris. "There's no more money on the table than there was before," Lombard said.

Speaking at the conference, Lombard said the price TeliaSonera wanted France Telecom to pay for the company corresponded to a more aggressive takeover, including restructuring measures, than that envisaged by the French operator.

Lombard said France Telecom's interest in TeliaSonera is now "closed" and the company will focus on more modest acquisitions for the time being.

France Telecom said Monday it was walking away from its $42-billion approach to buy TeliaSonera.

At 0816 GMT, shares in France Telecom traded up EUR0.25, or 1.3%, at EUR19.41.

-By Jethro Mullen, Dow Jones Newswires; +33 1 4017 1740; jethro.mullen@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

Posted to the site on 2nd July 2008