Vivendi sells NBCU stake

French conglomerate Vivendi SA is selling a 7.6% stake in NBCU to parent General Electric for $2 billion. Vivendi had said it would sell its position in NBCU as part of the agreement to merge NBCU with Comcast.

Vivendi said it plans to sell its remaining 12.3% stake in the entertainment unit when the deal is completed. GE and Comcast executives have said they hope to win regulatory approval and close the $13.75 billion deal this year. NBC Universal was created in 2004 when NBC merged with Vivendi Universal Entertainment at a time when the French outfit was more keen on US media properties.