Assume, as some analysts do, that Britain's Vodafone might pay some euro6 billion for Vivendi's stake in Cegetel.

ECONOMIST: Vivendi Universal

The writedown of Canal Plus leaves it worth euro6.5 billion on Vivendi's books.

ECONOMIST: Vivendi Universal

He has also said that he expects ebitda to reach euro6 billion, which implies a total debt of euro18 billion.

ECONOMIST: Vivendi Universal

Perhaps it should not be surprising that shares in Sonera have tumbled from more than euro95 last year to around euro6.25.

ECONOMIST: European telecoms: Running for the exit | The

Alstom currently has euro6.27 billion of net prepayments on its balance sheet.

ECONOMIST: Alstom

The company must invest euro6 billion-8 billion in gas production and infrastructure, and will allow competitors more access to its pipelines than is legally required.

ECONOMIST: The controversial takeover of Ruhrgas is held up by a court

In March France Telecom, with nearly euro70 billion in debts, launched a huge bond issue which helped to take euro10 billion of loans off the books of its banks and refinance euro6 billion of maturing bonds.

ECONOMIST: Telecoms debt

If Vivendi were forced into a strategic retreat from telecoms by selling its stake in Cegetel, the euro6 billion or so it might raise would have to be used to pay back the euro16 billion of debt that is now in the central holding company.

ECONOMIST: Vivendi Universal