MADRID (Reuters) - Spanish telecoms operator Telefonica (NYSE:TEF) plans to raise as much as 500 million euros ($591.35 million) with the sale of a minority stake in its technology unit, Cinco Dias newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing financial sources.
Telefonica has hired advisor KPMG and investment bank Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) and potential buyers include private equity funds such as Apax Partners, the newspaper said.
Telefonica is ready to sell up to 49% of the unit, which is initially valued at 1 billion euros. The unit includes cybersecurity, Internet of Things an cloud computing operations, Cinco Dias said.
The sale would be part of a wider Telefonica plan to reduce its debt by selling assets.
A spokesperson for Telefonica declined to comment.
($1 = 0.8455 euros)